Nasreen and Nandigram: intent behind events

The military deployment in central Kolkata, the first since the demolition of Babri mosque, assumes sinister dimension. Pity that it is to defend a single woman for whom the phalanx of CRPF, RAF and the military are ranged, what though they had failed earlier. The intent matters. This time nothing would happen because of the presence of political will as it also happened in the case of the Kalayan Singh government in UP and Narsimha Rao government at the centre when the political will was absent to prevent what was impending.

Ever since assuming charge of the West Bengal government Budhadeb Bhattcharjee has had a difficult equation with the Muslim minority. Madrassa when it came handy or refugees when they gave him the chance and now the poor peasants whose land grab became the end of the stick in hand and finally a much universal chorus of Islam and woman (Nasreen’s war cry) despite the ghoulish murder of Rizwanurrehman. As if these were not enough the periodic taunts and barbs of Tasleema Nasreen on religious practices were beyond the propriety of being an asylum seeker. It is also reflective of her prejudiced mentality that the rape of scores of women mostly Muslim in Satangabari Ranichawk and elsewhere in Nandigram and death of many did not impinge her mind while the death of 19 Hindus during 1992-93 made her write a whole novel against the Muslims of Bangladesh.

Being a Marxist run state the poor should have been taken care of by the left rather than leaving them at the mercy of the Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee. And if Trinamool Congress and Congress parties entered the fray what queered the pitch? The minorities at the receiving end, suppressed and oppressed, in view of the concerted effort to exploit them for their lands so that the upper class/caste would pocket the jobs once the industrialization takes place, turned to the opposition parties. Their growing support to the opposition parties and vice versa emboldened the movement for keeping their land in their hands. This sent alarm to the CPM who feared their citadel falling to the opposition, it could have cascading effect. Alarmed by these the chief minister chose to become a Machiavellian politician rather than a statesman. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said:
“Well, it was a violent takeover by dangerous forces, they have now been paid back in the same coin. We did not trigger violence. We faced it, resisted it for months and then, eventually countered it. As I said before, the Opposition and the BUPC have got a taste of their own medicine. There was tension, total chaos and lack of peace in Nandigram. We had to do something. Our supporters risked their lives and returned home and retaliated only in desperation,” The so called take over was no less than state terrorism unleashed on the hapless. The police were not sent in, in fact the CRPF was kept at bay when hundreds were hounded out of their houses, many were killed, women were raped and their houses were burnt after looting. A handful who returned had to rejoin CPM, organize marches twice a day and shout slogans in favour of the ruling party. Others cannot even dare to return.

The imam of the Juma mosque of Delhi was not allowed to enter Nandigram in the aftermath of the March firing and death. If his entry was feared to cause communal heightening of tension what has the backing of Congress and Trinamool Congress done to the minorities? Summoning of the army and clamping curfew is on the pretext of the situation turning communal. Protest against Nasreen is not any new phenomenon on the horizon. Why now? To the minorities like Muslim it is another cause of grievance but to the ruling elite it is another card in the hand they can use in the game.

The chief minister was equally obdurate in dealing with the Rizwanurrehman and Priyanka Todi matter. His top police officers in the press conference they had called even kept secret the last call Rizwanur made to his lawyer. In this matter also Nasreen chose to keep silence. Even the two Todi girls are more feminist and more secular minded as they chose their partners in life irrespective of religious consideration. One chose a Muslim graphics teacher and the other her Hindu driver. How the government mishandled these cases are now history. These episodes have alienated the intelligentsia and the chief minister must have been disturbed and even panicked in reaction.

The large scale violence during the three hours of bandh on Wednesday resulted in the burning of two dozen vehicles including a school bus and a couple of CPM offices, arrests of hundreds and injuries to many. What role did the police play is far from clear. But Idris Ali the president of All India Minorities Forum said that the police arrested 200 agitators from his organization and the Furfurasharif Muzadeddia Anath Foundation “without reason”. The Muslims are agitated and duly concerned as they face even extinction as can be seen in what happened to one Golam Rasool.

Golam Rasool of Chowk Kendamar was kidnapped by the CPM cadres and kept in a jungle. Then he along with others was transported by a motor launch to Orissa. He would have been killed but he told the guards that he wanted to relieve himself. Then he made good his escape. They chased him but after an hour he gave them the slip. He got a lift in a truck somewhere near Cuttack. He contacted his father from a PCO as he had only three rupees in his pocket. His father came to his rescue. His abduction and capture and imprisonment in a camp and torture are nothing less than extraordinary rendition (the outsourcing of torture that the US is practicing in Iraq and with the prisoners at the Guantanaymo Bay).