By IANS
Kolkata : The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), sent to trouble-torn Nandigram in West Bengal to restore peace, finally entered the area Monday afternoon.
East Midnapore district Superintendent of Police S.S. Panda told IANS there was no report of violence from Nandigram since morning even as political efforts continued in Kolkata to bring peace to the region, located about 150 km from here.
West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who was criticised by the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for his indictment of the state government on the Nandigram situation, Monday met communist patriarch Jyoti Basu and reposed faith in the veteran leader’s efforts to bring peace to the region.
Emerging out of Basu’s residence, Gandhi said: “I appealed to Joyti Basu to resume the efforts of peace, confidence and security in West Bengal as he played a great role in restoring confidence earlier.”
Opposition Trinamool Congress chief Banerjee appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and all concerned to act to bring peace in Nandigram.
“I am knocking at all doors. I contacted the prime minister who is now in Moscow. I have spoken to Union Home Secretary (Madhukar Gupta). I am trying to contact Union Home Minister (Shivraj Patil),” she told a press conference at Tamluk in East Midnapore district where she visited the victims of bullet injuries in Nandigram.
“Each moment is very important. Everything is peaceful now in Nandigram, then why are we not allowed to go there? And if I am not allowed then why not even mediapersons are allowed to go inside and report?
“Let the media go there if everything is so fine,” said Banerjee.
She said even the CRPF personnel sent by the central government were not allowed inside. She was speaking hours before the CRPF entered Nandigram.
“If there is silence in Nandigram now then it is the silence of graveyard,” Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress has called for an “immobilisation” programme in West Bengal since Monday morning along with a 48-hour shutdown called by other parties.
Social activist Medha Patkar Monday brushed aside a request of the West Bengal government not to visit trouble-torn Nandigram and left for the ground zero with relief materials in the afternoon.
“Everyone should be allowed in Nandigram if indeed peace has returned there. We are going to Nandigram with relief and would never tolerate occupation of Nandigram by the CPI-M,” said Patkar after meeting the state’s chief secretary and home secretary at the Writers’ Buildings.
The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) leader observed a 48-hour fast since Saturday to protest the brutality and violation of human rights in Nandigram by the CPI-M.
Ironically, Patkar, also leader of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), had fought many battles in other states with the CPI-M on her side till West Bengal’s Singur and Nandigram flared up over land acquisition protests and pitted her against the Left here.
She was assaulted and intercepted by CPI-M workers when she was trying to reach Nandigram Friday last.
“The CRPF has only reached Nandigram but please remember that they work under the state government,” Patkar said.
Violence in Nandigram has claimed 34 lives since January, when the region flared up over proposed land acquisition for a special economic zone (SEZ). The state government scrapped the plan later in the face of stiff resistance.
However, a turf battle continues in Nandigram between the CPI-M and a Trinamool-backed villagers’ group in the run-up to local body elections in May next year.