Wednesday, March 28, 2007 (Nandigram-Khejuri border)
Activists from Orissa's Kalingnagar paid a visit to Nandigram on Tuesday to express solidarity with the villagers in their battle to protect their land from big business.
Last January, 13 people died in police firing at Kalinganagar while protesting land acquisition for a Tata project.
Fourteen died in Nandigram earlier this month while resisting acquisition of land for a SEZ.
The two villagers shared experiences and on the threat of losing their land to big business and the loss of lives while trying to defend their land. Both in Kalinganagar and in Nandigram the fight is for land.
But the difference is, the political consciousness of the people here is much higher than the people of Kalinganagar," said Ravi Jarika, Kalinganagar Bisthapan Birodhi Manch.
On Monday, the 45 Kalinganagar activists were detained for 12 hours by the West Bengal police at Kharagpur as suspected Maoists come to whip up tension at Nandigram.
"It is still agriculture that gives maximum employment and ensuring food security. This people don't want to disturb because there is no alternative. And alternatives can come only through small and medium industry and not big industry as they are forcing now," said Rajendra Sarangi, Lok Pakshya.
Debate rages
As the debate rages, the Nandigram-Khejuri border remains taut with tension.
Sonachura, under the Bhoomi Uchched Pratirodh Committee's control, has dug up roads afresh, apprehending attacks from CPI-M dominated Khejuri and vice versa.
"It has been more than 10 days now. But every day they is firing in the evening. People living on the border can't stay there at night," said Nishikanta Mondal, Bhoomi Uchched Pratirodh Committee.
"Last night they burst bombs at Sonachura. Sometimes, they come in groups and shout that they will destroy Khejuri," said Debu Das, Khejuri resident.
Two weeks after the killings in Nandigram, peace and normalcy still remain elusive.
Last January, 13 people died in police firing at Kalinganagar while protesting land acquisition for a Tata project.
Fourteen died in Nandigram earlier this month while resisting acquisition of land for a SEZ.
The two villagers shared experiences and on the threat of losing their land to big business and the loss of lives while trying to defend their land. Both in Kalinganagar and in Nandigram the fight is for land.
But the difference is, the political consciousness of the people here is much higher than the people of Kalinganagar," said Ravi Jarika, Kalinganagar Bisthapan Birodhi Manch.
On Monday, the 45 Kalinganagar activists were detained for 12 hours by the West Bengal police at Kharagpur as suspected Maoists come to whip up tension at Nandigram.
"It is still agriculture that gives maximum employment and ensuring food security. This people don't want to disturb because there is no alternative. And alternatives can come only through small and medium industry and not big industry as they are forcing now," said Rajendra Sarangi, Lok Pakshya.
Debate rages
As the debate rages, the Nandigram-Khejuri border remains taut with tension.
Sonachura, under the Bhoomi Uchched Pratirodh Committee's control, has dug up roads afresh, apprehending attacks from CPI-M dominated Khejuri and vice versa.
"It has been more than 10 days now. But every day they is firing in the evening. People living on the border can't stay there at night," said Nishikanta Mondal, Bhoomi Uchched Pratirodh Committee.
"Last night they burst bombs at Sonachura. Sometimes, they come in groups and shout that they will destroy Khejuri," said Debu Das, Khejuri resident.
Two weeks after the killings in Nandigram, peace and normalcy still remain elusive.
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