Buddhadeb denies landgrab bias
05 February, 2007
Statesman News Service KRISHNAGAR, Feb. 4: The chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, came down heavily today on sections that have allegedly accused him of forcibly acquiring land belonging to Muslims.
Mr Bhattacharjee was speaking at a rally organised by the CPI-M in Nadia district. Without mentioning any name but referring to his accusers, Mr Bhattacherjee said: “Will they teach us secularism? Is it true that we are acquiring only land belonging to Muslims for industrialisation? They are inciting the spirit of communalism among the masses.”
A major section of Muslims in Nadia reportedly boycotted the chief minister’s meeting and preferred to stay in their villages despite alleged threats from the CPI-M cadres today to attend the meet. Like the Jamait-e-Ulama-i-Hind two days ago, the CPI-M leaders tried hard to bring people from the rural fringes only to show their strength.
Mr Tozammel Sheikh of Karimpur, who attended the rally, said that he came here after being instructed to do so by CPI-M leaders. When asked about the Jamait-Ulema-e-Hind, he said: “The Jamait had held a meeting ten days ago in my village. If they invite me I will attend their meeting.
In my village, about 75 per cent Muslims are with the Jamait-e-Ulama-i-Hind.” Mr Nasirudding Mondol, who came from Kalyandaha in Chapra, said: “In Chapra about 50 per cent Muslims support the Jamait.” Coming down heavily on Naxalite groups, Mr Bhattacherjee said: “Their only objective is to kill policemen.
They have joined hands with the BJP and Trinamul Congress to fight against us. They are against industrialisation. When Maoists in Nepal have left their old ideologies and have come forward to join the development process, these Naxalites are trying to arrest development.”
Moving onto the subject of Singur, Mr Bhattacharjee said: “We have not victimised the landowners, bargadars and labourers in Singur. We have allotted adequate compensation to the landowners and bargadars.”
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Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, Singur
posted by Bimal 5.2.07,
