Kolkata, Nov. 10 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday vowed to reopen cases relating to the 2007 Nandigram violence and initiate fresh legal action against those allegedly responsible for the killings.
Addressing a Martyrs' Day programme at Tekhali in Nandigram, Adhikari asserted that he would facilitate the registration of fresh FIRs and ensure that cases against those accused of orchestrating the violence were reopened.
Accusing the previous Trinamool Congress government of denying justice to the victims, the Chief Minister said: "Those who were responsible must face the law. I am not waiting for anybody's certificate. I have fought for these families and will continue to do so." Chief Minister also stated that the families of Nandigram incident victims were still awaiting justice even 19 years after the bloodshed. He also mentioned the names of several people allegedly linked to political violence in different parts of the state and said action would be initiated if fresh complaints were lodged.
"The CID conducted a probe, but there was no trial. I have said that fresh FIRs will be filed and cases reopened against those responsible," Adhikari said.
He named CPI(M) leaders Abhay Ghosh of Goghat, Manoranjan Patra of Taldangra, Tapan Ghosh of Garbeta and Himanshu Das of Khejuri, among others.
Taking a dig at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari alleged that several victims' families had been denied death certificates during Banerjee's 15-year tenure. Adhikari claimed that he had to approach the Calcutta High Court to secure the documents and ensure compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the affected families. Adhikari also brought a startling allegation against Banerjee, saying four families had been deprived of compensation because they had not attended a meeting addressed by Banerjee.
Adhikari claimed that nine members of affected families, who had earlier been denied employment, had recently been appointed as attendants in government establishments. Referring to the political significance of the Nandigram movement, the Chief Minister said the struggle had been between the people of Nandigram and the then CPI-M government, and asserted that the Trinamool Congress had no role in securing justice for the victims.
He recalled how 11 people were allegedly taken to a CPI(M) party office and killed during the 2007 violence. In a notable departure from his usual criticism of the Left, Adhikari made softer remarks regarding former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. He stated that personally, Bhattacharya was a good man and behaved well with him, though adding that Bhattacharya's party was not good.
In response to a media question, he alleged that organised groups had arrived from outside Nandigram wearing black clothes and attempted to disrupt the programme. He said those responsible should be dealt with under the law.
Defending his government's performance during its first six months in office, Chief Minister Adhikari claimed that several welfare and development initiatives had already been launched. He further claimed that recruitment for 29,000 police posts had been initiated and that the government was targeting one lakh appointments on merit. Referring to proposed projects involving Reliance and JSW, including a second power plant at Salboni, Adhikari said West Bengal was receiving greater attention from the Centre.
In the evening, Adhikari visited the neighbourhood of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and attended the Kali Puja organised by the club run by Mamata's younger brother, Babun Banerjee, and also performed the aarti before the goddess. Babun touched the Chief Minister's feet to seek his blessings. Speaking to journalists, Babun addressed Adhikari and said: "Dada, keep moving forward. We are with you."
Adhikari walked past Mamata Banerjee's residence. He also visited several other Kali Puja pandals in Harish Chatterjee Street. During his visit, the Chief Minister interacted with local residents and reached out to the general public.
Adhikari also met clay idol makers (potters) at Patua Para under his Bhowanipore Assembly constituency of Kalighat and provided financial assistance of Rs 7,000 to each of them.
The potters faced heavy financial losses right before Kali Puja due to unrest and late-night disruptions outside Mamata Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.