JANHASTAKSHEP and People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) organized a discussion at Gandhi Peace Foundation on 3 April, 2007 on “Nandigram Calls: Repeal Land Acquisition Act, 1894”.

A large number of intellectuals, political activists and civil rights activists attended the discussion which was conducted by Shri R.B.Mehrotra (Ex-Pres. PUCL- Delhi) and Dr. N.K. Bhattacharya (Janhastakshep).

 

The first speaker, Justice Rajender Sachar, condemned the attack on Nandigram by the CPI(M) and referred to the immense loss to the national exchequer by the  tax exemptions through the creation of SEZs. He opposed large tracts of agricultural land being handed over to private players creating even more insecurity and poverty.

 
Dr. Aparna, CPI (ML) New Democracy said that Nandigram has exposed before the people that CPI(M) as a ruling  class party. The Nandigram struggle has raised those questions which have been raised by earlier and existing struggles being waged against forcible land acquisition.

Former M.P. Mr. Surender Mohan criticized the very concept of SEZs and pointed out the anti national character of SEZ laws which will permit the administration of SEZs similar to foreign territories where existing labour and environmental laws will not be implemented.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan said that land ceiling laws are being circumvented via SEZs. He said that all talks about reforming SEZ policy amounted to fooling the people. He reiterated that if the Nandigram villagers had attempted to secure their demands through the existing mechanisms such as the courts, it is doubtful that they would have been successful.

Sumit Chakraborty, Editor Mainstream narrated his experiences as a member of the fact finding team that has gone to Nandigram in January 2007. He lashed out at the CPI (M)and said that the facts show that even CPI(M) cadre in the affected areas had joined in the movement rebelling against their own party for its anti-people policies.

Anita Singh, Professor at Centre of Law and Governance at JNU, talked about the huge investments that had been made to make Nandigram into a model area and that is the reason there was such strong resistance to the take over of their land by the CPI(M) government. According to her the land mafia is now well on its way to capture huge tracts of land all over India aided and abetted by the ruling parties.

At the end of the, meeting a resolution was passed demanding:
    

 

 

3. Repeal SEZ Act.