LOK SABHA ___ *SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES (Proceedings other than Questions & Answers) _____ Wednesday, November 21, 2007 / Kartika 30, 1929 (Saka) ______ DISCUSSION UNDER RULE 193 Re : The proposal to set up Special Economic Zone in Nandigram, West Bengal and consequent large scale violence. SHRI L. K. ADVANI initiating, said : I am thankful to you for giving me the opportunity to speak on this important issue. This discussion should not merely be used to level allegations and counter allegations on each other, rather, it should be used as to how such a situation could be prevented and such a situation should not arise anywhere any time. It is a matter of concern. The Nandigram incident is not a recent one. This incident has been going on for months together but this time the gravity of the incident has taken a serious turn. I am happy that the recent stalemate in the House has come to an end and it has given me an opportunity to initiate the discussion on this issue. Had the discussion on Nandigram not taken place it would have lowered the Parliament in the esteem of the people of the country? Therefore, it is imperative for the dignity of the Parliament that wherever such incidents take place, a discussion should be held on these with open mind. Hon’ble High Court calls it unconstitutional, the Governor describes it as totally unlawful and the Head of the CRPF says that he does not get any cooperation there. Is it not a serious situation on which the Parliament should hold discussion? The Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs is present here. I would like to urge him to consider that the situation there should be improved. Nandigram is going to be the turning point in the history of the Communist Party of India. The Parliament and the Government should get the authentic information regarding Nandigram. For this purpose, first of all an all party delegation should be sent to Nandigram and thereafter the Government should consider as to what can be done in this regard. The kith and kins of deceased and the rape victims should be compensated as per the directions of the Hon’ble High Court. Besides, the Governor should be summoned here and the Union Government should collect the full information and thereafter should take necessary action. I feel that Article 355 should be invoked first and if they do not comply with the directions, Article 356 should be invoked. THE MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING (SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI) : This discussion begins with SEZ and ends with the subsequent violence. On the issue of SEZ, there have been agitation all over the country. That is why, UPA Chairperson, Smt. Gandhi had observed in a meeting with the Chief Minster that there is an apprehension that the way this question is being dealt with, the lives of our farmers, agricultural labours and poor may be in peril. Thereafter, the UPA Government said that we cannot straightaway go ahead with the SEZ policy promulgated by NDA and that we have to change it thoroughly. This policy came into operation in February, 2004. Our UPA Government decided that we will give it the statutory effect and make it a law that will be introduced in this session. Under the proposed legislation, this programme will be undertaken only after taking measures to rehabilitate farmers and the BPL people, who were in the occupation of land for three years proposed to be acquired for SEZ. What happened in Nandigram are not sudden and sporadic incidents of violence. It has its basis in the concept of forming an SEZ with four thousand acres of land to start with which was later increased to ten thousand acres. Violence took place in Nandigram on 3rd January. It was a very peaceful area. It was not a fight between Maoists, Naxalites, etc. On 2nd and 3rd January, unfortunately a notice was issued in the office of the BDO. That notice provoked the people there because their lands were supposed to be acquired. Immediately, it went like a fire in the entire land of Nandigram. It was done by the common people, overwhelming bulk of whom supported and stood by the party which was in power, right from Panchayats, Assembly and the Parliament. The share-coppers are not in the compensation clause or the compensation victim. That is one reason. After the first firing, two out of six victims’ houses could not be traced because their bodies were not traced. I conveyed everything in writing to the hon. Chief Minister whole feelings I realized. I did not want the youth in every district of Bengal to be converted again with youth with gun. I did inform my colleague, Shri Gurudas Dasgupta, whom I talked. I am not blaming anybody. Things went beyond control. When it went beyond control, the fight started as to do they really want to retain the land as it is. I have been taking the position from day one and cutting across party line, those who were identified by the police to have done it could have been booked and brought to the justice things would have taken a different turn. I am not blaming that it was done by any party leader. But sometimes one tends to blame the party leaders. Smt. Medha Patkar was prevented; Ms. Mamta Banerjee prevented; the Cop leader was prevented; the Congress delegation was prevented to visit Nandigram, but only Advanji was not prevented. The entire national media, all television channels are a witness to what happened there from 3rd January to 9th January and what happened from 13th March to 14th March 2007. I am from Bengal and naturally if something goes wrong there I would cry before the State Government, then before the Home Minister. Those who have done this should first be brought to justice and then a dialogue should be started with the responsible parties and I must also say here that a very senior leader of the Left Front tried to start that process with all sincerity but he could not take it to its logical conclusion because by that time things had taken a different turn. I am only trying to give an objective assessment. I only say that the entire Left Front and its constituents tried to build up an environment of dialogue and peace and not repression and counter-attack. I think that objective introspection is required in the whole matter. The people who are in the refugee camp and people who are outside the village should be brought to their homes in safe custody. MD. SALIM: The stand of our party is clear as far as the setting up of SEZ is concerned. From the very beginning we have been urging the UPA Government not to implement the policy of the Union Government. Discussions also took place in the Parliamentary Committee in this regard which concluded that this policy needs so many changes. I would like to know from Hon’ble Minister whether any proposal to setup SEZ in Nandigram was sponsored by the Central Government as out of 400 SEZ proposals only 200-300 proposals were got implemented in the country. Left Front Government believes that whatever scheme is formulated by the Central Government, it is not implemented in the State unless it is approved by the Panchayat and by the people of the State because the implementation is directly related to the development of the people. Therefore, their consent is necessary before taking any decision in this regard. Without them we cannot march forward. The matter of setting up SEZ is related to the grassroot level, it is related to the farmers, to the development. We want to have discussion of the matters which are related to new ways and means of development. We believe in democracy, we cannot take any decision without having any parliamentary, democratic, dialogue, debate and discussion. On 19 December, 2006 Standing Committee of West Bengal Assembly decided that Nandigram could be a better place to develop and hence identified Nandigram. As per Land Acquisition Act District Collector has to notify a particular area and has to issue a notice in this regard. There is a much difference between fact and fiction. I am quoting this because this propaganda is going on for the last one year. It is still going on. There is apprehension amongst farmers that their land and livelihood would be snatched. They think that whosoever comes here, whether he is Central Government representative, Panchayat representative, MLA or M.P., whether he is police officer or CPI (M) representative, they only come to take their land. Therefore, without discussing the issue of land you cannot discuss Nandigram. I expect the Union Minister to follow the advice of his Government. The Union Minister just wondered as to why ‘Mao’ word is used. Mao tse Tung was a young leader and he also respect him. The West Bengal Government had asked for CRPF on 27th October and violent incidents took place on 5, 6 and 7 November. Our Home Minister had promised in the House to the effect that he would press in necessary help or send paramilitary forces wherever needed to tackle the problem of naxalites. Why was no paramilitary forces sent in this case? Why did we ask for CRPF from the Home Ministry if we did not want peace to be prevailed there? The Hon. Dasmunsi has to answer this question as to what was the reason that the CRPF would not be deployed there? Therefore, I am of the opinion that a time will come when the truth will ultimately triumphed.