The Hindu spiked the agency stories on Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi's visit to Nandigram on Sunday. It did the same thing by censoring the press statement - ' cold horror' - after the killing by police and CPI(M) cadres on 14 March ( death anniversary of Marx), killing 14, injuring 162 and raping at least 3 women ( acc to the HC verdict, available on the net). It's editor is praised sky high for being a topper at the Columbia School of Journalism.
I have conveyed my anguish to a deputy editor of the Hindu Business Line, knowing full well that my articles may not be published any more in the future ( just as it did to Medha Patkar, Amit Bhaduri and Sumit Sarkar). I remember Paranjoy Guha Thakurta had to leave the Ananda Bazar group for exposing ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury in Sunday (that too without byline) in the mid-1980s.
Anyway, pasted below are two stories on Governor's visit to Nandigram, showing that he did not take sides.
Sankar Ray
CPM supporters to governor: Where were you all these months? CRPF hatao by PRONAB MONDAL AND ANSHUMAN PHADIKAR (http://telegraphindia.com/1071203/asp/frontpage/story_8622233.asp)
Nandigram, Dec. 2: Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi today held countless hands and a cricket bat in Nandigram, inviting comparisons with the Gandhigiri cliche.
But another — and blunter — version of Gandhigiri was waiting for him when his white Qualis drove up to Tekhali bridge, across which lay Nandigram, at 11.10am.
Around 100 people, including 50 women, formed a human wall, forcing the 30- vehicle convoy to stop.
"Where were you in the past 11 months? Why have you come now? Do you know what we had to face here?" shouted Atashi Jana, a resident of the nearby Gokulnagar, leading the crowd towards Gandhi's car.
As the governor rolled down the window, Atashi cried out: "We want the CRPF to withdraw immediately." The others joined in a chorus: "CRPF choley jaak. CRPF hatao (let the CRPF go. Throw them out)."
The governor, patiently listening to them, tried to reason with Atashi. "Ora to bhalor jonnei achhe (they are here for your good)."
He added: "People gained confidence after the CRPF deployment and they will remain here."
But for that hint of steel, the governor — the highest-ranking authority yet to visit Nandigram — was largely restrained during his tour.
A discordant note was struck with the stated position of the Bengal government when he said Nandigram had a great future for agriculture, and the state and the Centre should look into it for the area's sustainable growth.
Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had repeatedly cited diminishing returns from farming to say industrialisation was the only alternative to fight poverty.
"I have seen fishing and farming going on side by side. I think Nandigram can be a lesson of a very different kind for India," Gandhi said, pointing to the multitude of water bodies there.
But the comment was mild compared with his Diwali statement that termed the CPM's recapture of Nandigram "unlawful and unacceptable". Today, Gandhi said: "I made the statements that were required at that point of time."
At Tekhali, the CPM local leadership had decided to block the governor's car to air "grievances". "The blockade was a part of that effort," said Ashoke Bera, the Nandigram I panchayat samiti president.
Before leaving, the governor leaned forward to tell the DIG (Midnapore range), N. Ramesh Babu: "Be impartial."
The cavalcade then rolled towards Satengabari. The governor covered a 1km dusty road by foot to reach ransacked houses belonging to Bhoomi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee supporters.
"Sir, where will we live? My daughters and I have only a tarpaulin sheet for shelter," said Rabeya Biwi, 28, mother of Mumtaz, 3, and Saira, 5, clasping his hands.
Soaked in sweat, Gandhi consoled her: "Reconstruct your house for the sake of your children."
Without warning, Najma Biwi, 32, ran up to him and fell at his feet. "Sir, please don't leave our fate in the hands of local police. CRPF ke jete deben na (don't allow the CRPF to go)."
"The CRPF will not go, they will be here for your security," Gandhi told her.
When Gandhi was about to leave, a group of CPM supporters whose houses were ransacked 11 months ago blocked his way. "You will have to visit our houses, too," said Manoranjan Manna. Gandhi promptly agreed.
Outside Manna's house, two groups started accusing each other. Maneka Biwi caught Gandhi's hands and started pulling him to her house.
"Aapni oder obostha dekhlen aar amar ta dekhben na? (You have seen their condition and will not see ours?)"
"Of course, I will," said Gandhi and followed her.
The two groups started pointing fingers at each other, saying: "Sir, he is the person who set my house ablaze. Arrest him," shouted a villager.
The governor stood in silence, looking at the policemen around him.
Later, at Sonachura, he stepped into the house of Sankar Samanta, a CPM panchayat member who was hacked to death on January 6. Sankar's widow Sabita and father Sudarshan embraced him and broke down.
"You came to the Raj Bhavan... I recognise you. How is your daughter?" he asked Sabita.
Gandhi told reporters that the process of restoring peace has begun, but it would take time. "What is abhay (fearlessness)? (It is) not just a land without fear, but also a land where fear does not lurk. We should have fearlessness in Nandigram."
>>
Gubernatorial trip with a mission (http://thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=178926)
Statesman News Service
NANDIGRAM, Dec. 2: The CPI-M may be haranguing the CRPF for allegedly "attacking CPI-M cadres" and not following instructions from the state police to the tee in Nandigram, but the Governor Mr Goplakrishna Gandhi today praised the Central agency for gaining the confidence of the fear-struck people of Nandigram.
"Fear must be removed", was what he emphasised after a day-long trip to some of the worst-affected villages in Nandigram as well as the Nandigram relief camp. While asking the CRPF to stay on for at least 24-hours in one of the most-scarred villages in the 6 November carnage, Satengabari, as "the political situation here is extremely volatile", the Governor said "it is indeed praiseworthy the way the Central agency has gained the trust of people here. They must continue to work to restore peace in the villages of Nandigram."
It was this very village that Mr Shyamal Chakraborty, member, state CPI-M secretariat, had named while alleging that the CRPF was harassing and beating up CPI-M cadre in certain places. The Governor said that the CRPF should stay on in Nandigram until peace and normalcy are restored.
After visiting the Nandigram relief camp, the Governor went first to Satengabari and then to Sonachura and Garchakraberia, before returning to Kolkata.
On his way to Satengabari, the Governor's convoy was stopped on Tekhali bridge by CPI-M supporters, led by Mr Ashok Bera, CPI-M leader and sabhapati of Nandigram I Panchayat Samity. They demanded that the Governor pay heed to CPI-M supporters whose houses were allegedly destroyed by BUPC supporters while they were away in Khejuri for 11 months and alleged that BUPC leaders were intimidating them after their return to the village. "BUPC leaders like Mr Swadesh Adhikary are harassing us everyday," claimed Ms Tapasi Jana, a resident of Gokulnagar. Asked if Mr Adhikary was harassing them from his residence in Gokulnagar, Ms Jana alleged: "No, he is sending threats to us from the Nandigram relief camp."
In Sonachura, the Governor visited the house of CPI-M panchayat samity member of Sonachura No. 10 gram panchayat, Sankar Samanta, who was killed allegedly by BUPC supporters on 7 January. The Governor spoke to a weeping Mr Sudhangshu Shekhar Samanta, father of the deceased and to Sankar's wife Mrs Sabita Samanta.
In the Nandigram relief camp, BUPC leaders handed over a list of persons missing since 10 November, when allegedly CPI-M cadre fired at a peace procession of the BPC, killing and injuring many men, women and children. "We will soon send a deputation to the Governor demanding that justice be served in the countless cases of rape and molestation of women and minor girls by CPI-M hoodlums. We will also ask him to investigate the role of the state police in the violence in Nandigram," said Mr Abu Taher, BUPC leader.
At Satengabari, the Governor was met with a scene of extreme tension, and spoke to villagers who are still cowering under threats and intimidation.
The Governor's convoy stopped almost everywhere along the way in villages such as Garchakraberia, Bhutar More, Hazraghata, where people had gathered to speak to him after hearing that his convoy would pass that way.
Mr Gandhi said the administration must do all it takes to restore peace and normalcy in the area. A report of what he has experienced in Nandigram today will be sent to the Union home ministry, as is the custom, he added.
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