On backfoot, CPM to study SEZs threadbare

With the Nandigram SEZ issue continuing to boil and allies raising discordant notes, the CPI(M) has decided to discuss the issue threadbare.

With the Nandigram SEZ issue continuing to boil and allies raising discordant notes, the CPI(M) has decided to discuss the issue threadbare. Alarmed at the violent turn of events, the party feels “the misinformation campaign” got better off the “facts” and its time it discussed the issue point by point to devise a strategy to explain the matter to the masses.

Apart from the Politburo meeting convened on February 17 and 18, the central leadership will be making an elaborate study about “various issues” emerging out of the proposed SEZ in Nandigram. Party sources concede that the fallout of an SEZ project will be much higher than Singur, in terms of it affecting the interest of its constituents if the “concerns are not addressed and opposition continues to take political mileage”.

Party leaders feel that since the Salim Group project needs acquisition of over 25,000 acre, the CPI(M) needs to study every aspect to contain the political damage. “The party will soon discuss all issues related to the project and we are sure people will understand the facts,” senior CPI(M) leader and Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai said.

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The party is however clear that there is no going back on industrialisation. “We need to move on from the agrarian phase and for setting up industries we need land. It’s almost impossible to find non-agricultural land in a state like West Bengal,” reasoned a party central committee member.

“All we have to do is ensure that people realise the importance of industrial projects and they get adequate compensation and a source of livelihood.”

Some party leaders feel the CPI(M) machinery in the state did not live up to the task of “explaining the factual position of land acquisition, letting the opponents gain mileage on the basis of rumours”. “In early January, CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee categorically said land acquisition has not started. But Nandigram is rife with all sorts of rumours,” points out a state leader.

On the other hand, allies have been flaying the CPI(M) for its handling of Nandigram, for they fear “such policies are causing them political damage”. “We have 23 MLAs and four ministers in the state. More importantly, we have portfolios like agriculture and agriculture marketing. As a party we stand to suffer from these polices of the CPI(M),” explained a Forward Bloc leader.