Terror Strikes Uttar Pradesh

Back from Hyderabad

I was planning to post a blog entry as soon as I got back from my trip to Hyderabad. I wanted to write about our journey and also prepare an itinerary for travelers and others interested in visiting the city.

However, the theme changed. The terror blasts in Uttar Pradesh changed the course, content and mood. It is yet another heinous and dastardly act of terrorism, through which nothing will be gained. Killing, injuring and maiming countless innocent people is no solution to any political or any religious end. When will people realize it?

The three blasts occurred around noon in and around court premises. The terrorist attack on the Parliament is still fresh in our minds. This time the attack is on the judiciary. If I may hazard a guess – who’s next? The President? There seems to be a system – a pattern in the attack. The terrorists are focusing on the three pillars of democracy in India. They have hurt two till date.

At this juncture, the security forces must tighten their defences in and around the Presidency. And a heavy hand must come down on all terrorists captured. They must all be taught the hard lesson that the unity, the sovereignty and the social and democratic mosaic of India cannot be perturbed.

I have always spoken against capital punishment, always sided against such punishment. Today, I feel that such capital punishment is a necessity for terrorists. Bring them to the court rooms they attacked, prosecute and hang them.

Read more from Rediff

Bandhs and Fundamental Rights

The Bandh culture is back to haunt the city of Kolkata and the state of West Bengal. This time around almost all the Opposition Parties in the State Legislative Assembly have come together to bring West Bengal to a standstill. All of it in protest over the atrocities allegedly committed by the West Bengal government, their administrative wing and the State Government controlled police force, and most importantly the alleged waves of attack using human shields on the followers of BUPC(Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee).

Local newspapers have reported that CPM controlled cadres have used hostages – captured BUPC supporters, and left-supporting residents of Nandigram who were rendered homeless when BUPC started becoming a force to reckon with in the early part of 2007. Violence and lawlessness ruled and civilians were dropping like flies.

It needs a protest. The so-called intellectuals of Kolkata protested. Some of them were even detained at Lalbazar, the police Headquarters. More to reason, than to arrest, I am sure.

The Trinamul Congress Party which has openly been rallying for the BUPC and supporting the movement against CPM followers in Nandigram moved back. The charismatic leader of TMC, Mamata Banerjee even resigned as an MP in protest. But somehow, the parties could not stop calling a Bandh to paralyze the state.

All of it when the State was just recovering from the SUCI bandh on 30th October and the TMC bandh on the 31st in protest over the high handedness of the state administration in the Rizwanur Rehman case and Nandigram. This was followed by an extended weekend due to Diwali and Bhai Dwuj or Bhai Phonta celebrations from last Friday to Sunday.

Come Monday we find the Congress calling a 24 hour Bandh, the SUCI initially calling a 24 hour Bandh and then extending it to 48 hours, the BJP calling a 48 Bandh and the best one from TMC – INDEFINITE.

Of course, these days Bandhs are pretty successful. What with a government bus being set on fire at Moulali, Kolkata this morning and another one torched in Durgapur. Passengers are few, vehicular traffic is minimum, train services are hit and almost all major markets are closed. Is this shutdown on the part of the people in support of the protests at Nandigram?

Would you drive your car around the city when buses are being torched? Would you risk your child’s health and life by sending him/her to school today, when a stray fight or shrapnel could cause fatal harm? The people are staying in, neither in support of the Bandh nor in protest over Nandigram but because of fear of loss of life and property.

The politics of fear and the culture of Bandhs need to cease. A Supreme Court verdict has rendered all Bandh calls by political parties illegal and fines have already been imposed on some parties in other states. People have a right to carry on with their life normally. This is a fundamental right and depriving a citizen of this right is an outright violation of the Constitution of India and a major blow to human rights. The right agencies should take up the matter seriously, as also the political parties.

Whereas I totally agree that the culprits of Nandigram should be booked and brought to justice and my heart pains for the lives lost in the struggle there, whereas I want peace to dwell in Nandigram and all across the State, I don’t agree to the fact that Bandhs are the means to achieve such goals, and I protest this blatant violation of my right to get on with my work and daily life.

A Day at Shantiniketan, Bolpur

Thanks to Hemanta Sarkar who was kind enough to give me this trip, explaining the significance of each place.

GREENERY

Paddy Green

I Love Chandeliers

Almost all Durga Puja pandals have one or more chandeliers, and when lit up - they look wonderful.

DURGA PUJA

These are some images from the Durga Puja in and around Kolkata

PEACE BE AT NANDIGRAM

It causes grave concern that the boiling issue of land acquisition took such a turn as to take the horrifying shape of war at Nandigram. Hundreds of people have died in this pseudo war raging in Midnapur, West Bengal. Clearly, two factions have emerged and both appear equipped with modern assault weapons, and since January 2007, the warring factions have further aggravated the situation.

The unfortunate situation has been marked by a conspicuous absence of police and other administration personnel. The matter and the burning issue should have been resolved and contained with an iron hand of the administration and the government. The government in West Bengal continues to remain accountable for the maladministration in Nandigram. The government is answerable. So where are the answers? I fully support our current Chief Minister. He appears to be an honest person driven by development prospects within the state. But Sir, where are you and where are your comments?

The media has been blaring on the issue and all political parties are putting forth their views and opinions. I, however, fail to understand why should there be a Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee. The government had announced way back in March that there would be no immediate land acquisitions in Nandigram. So why should the BUPC still exist? If there is no land acquisition, why should there be a committee to prevent it. More so, with weapons. Ultra modern and automatic weapons!

All the killings need to stop at the earliest. I am sure that the government of West Bengal is committed towards the Constitution of India and would safeguard the interests and fundamental rights of all its citizens in Nandigram and all over the state. The culprits would be brought to book and peace should dwell.

Read more on this issue at http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/11nandigram3.htm

For peace at Nandigram.