“It was state-sponsored terrorism”

T’PURAM: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee said what had happened in Singur and Nandigram was state-sponsored terrorism. Though months have passed since the violent incidents, not even a proper charge-sheet was submitted and no culprits were booked. The administration and the police were protecting the culprits, multinationals and big corporate while totally neglecting the poor who had lost their land, she alleged.

While lashing out at the CPM over the Nandigram and Singur issue, Mamata said that the Left party had lost its ideology and commitment to the people for the sake of money and power.

“They have lost their ideology and social commitment. Money is honey for them. They are now speaking for the multinationals,” she said while addressing a convention on Saturday.

Mamata said that she was not opposed to industrialisation but she was opposed to surrendering the fertile land to the multinationals. The West Bengal government was engaged in forcible take-over of fertile multi-crop lands for creation of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), she said.

“The CPM men look like gentlemen in New Delhi. But when they come to Bengal they are blackmen,” said Mamata.

About 60 people including the victims of Nandigram and Singur were also present on the occasion and some of them narrated their experiences. This included the father of Tapasi Malik who was raped and burnt alive allegedly by the CPM activists in Singur on December 18, 2006.

Later in the evening Mamata Banarjee along with the victims of Nandigram and Singur addressed a public meeting at Martyr’s Column. The convention was organised as part of Krishi Jami Raksha Committee’s effort to garner support from across the country for their movement. In Kerala their campaign was organised by the CMP.