EU, WTO, US, Caste System and Nandigram

EU, WTO, US, Caste System and Nandigram

Indian Holocaust my Father`s Life and Time - sixty Five

Palash Biswas



Congress workers burn an effigy of the West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, to protest the police firing and the death of farmers in Nandigram on Thursday. Farmers angry over plans to build an industrial park on their land torched a g overnment office on Thursday. Naxals
Under pressure from the US and European Union, India on Wednesday hinted that it was open to the idea of reducing customs duties on wines and spirits.

“India wants to avoid the matter going to the WTO’s dispute settlement body. I hope a solution can be found as the matter is being discussed at the highest level,” Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said after meeting EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel.

Both the EU and US have threatened to move the dispute settlement mechanism of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over customs duties India imposes on imported wine and distilled spirits. The effective duty on imported wine and distilled spirits such as whisky range from approximately 150 per cent to 550 per cent.

The US has said in the WTO, India has committed that its tariffs on wine and spirits will not exceed 150 per cent.

Naxalite s Kill Police Men
On the other hand, At least fifty security personnel were feared killed and as many as 13 others were injured when Naxalites attacked a police outpost located in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh during the wee hours of Thursday. The armed Maoists fled after looting weapons.According to the police sources, the Naxals came in large numbers and hurled grenades and petrol bombs besides opening indiscriminate fire on the security forces in the base camp at around 2 am.

“There were around eighty security personnel in the Rani Bodli base camp including 26 Chhattisgarh Armed Forces personnel and 55 Special Police Officers (SPOs) at the time of attack,” the source stated.The security personnel retaliated the Naxal attack, resulting in the death of nearly six of the extremists, a senior police official said.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, the state's home minister, Ram Vichar Netam, expressed fear that the casualty figures could be high. Senior police officials and paramilitary forces rushed to the spot following the massacre.Dantewada District Collector KR Pisda informed that around fifty dead bodies were recovered but they were yet to be identified.

Government plans to create hundreds of low-tax Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across India -- touted as a way to industrialise India -- could end up in tatters as farmers fight any acquisition of their lands in Nandigram.

The centrist, reform-minded government coalition of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the Congress party relies on a group of four leftist parties commonly known as the Left Front for a majority in parliament.

Those leftist parties are now worried about a backlash from their own grassroots over the promotion of SEZs at the cost of farmers' lands and are bickering among themselves.

Within the Left Front, smaller left parties have slammed India's biggest communist party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), which governs West Bengal and which tried to set up the industry hub on land in Nandigram belonging to thousands of farmers.

"No industry can be developed on the basis of corpses of peasants," Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary A.B. Bardhan told Reuters in Kolkata, in a rare blunt criticism of his longtime ally.

With the coalition's leftist partners fighting, Prime Minister Singh's Congress party-led government will not be able to rely on their support for economic reforms ahead of national elections in 2009.

Leftist parties have asked the government to put a cap on the number of SEZs as well as on the amount of land that can be taken for them.

"Without these amendments, SEZs are an imposition on the people," Bardhan said.

The central government had already put a hold on 230 SEZ approvals following violence earlier this year in Nandigram.

Some analysts expect the CPI(M), embarrassed by the Nandigram violence, would step up its opposition to reforms in the pension sector or to foreign players entering the retails sector to try and boost its socialist credentials.

"To bolster its credentials and override criticism of its smaller left-wing allies over the SEZs, one can expect a lot more barking from the CPI(M) against the central government," said Pran Chopra, a New Delhi-based political commentator.

India's leftists are not expected to pull support from the Congress party, as they fear that would bring back their ideological enemy, the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, back in power.

WEST BENGAL STRONGHOLD

In recent years, reformist CPI(M) West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has been wooing investors, resulting in technology companies flocking to the eastern state.

But his push to set up SEZs has met bloody resistance, especially in Nandigram in the southwest of the state, where at least 21 people have been killed in clashes since January.

The CPI(M)'s leftist allies say the pro-farmer image of the leftist parties that rule three of India's 29 states is getting tarred by the West Bengal government's actions.

"The way the government has tackled the issue is anti-people," said Asok Ghosh, state chief of the pro-communist All India Forward Bloc in West Bengal.

But a senior CPI(M) politician said authorities had to act in Nandigram where villagers, egged on by opposition political activists, were not allowing the state to operate for weeks.

"Is Nandigram a liberated zone? How can the government give up its authority due to a fear psychosis created by anti-government elements?" party MP Mohammad Saleem said.



Organising Bahujan unions on “caste identity” to destroy Brahminism
KOVENA, 7-141, MITTAPALEM STREET, GUDUR, NELLORE DT., AP - 524 101
We do not appear to have given much importance to Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Third Commandment, “Organize”. India is a subcontinent of many nationalities and sub-nationalities with all sorts of diversities — physical, linguistic, caste, social and cultural. Unity among such diverse nationalities is impossible for any concerted movement/action. It can only be done caste-wise and state-wise. No doubt our Editor, V.T. Rajshekar, has offered a wonderful solution: caste (Caste — A Nation Within the Nation, Books for Change, Bangalore, 2002). Even the Caste solution offered by him has nothing to say on “organize”. The problem is even the caste system is different in different states. The Telugu castes are not there in any other state. So also Kannada and Tamil castes. Taking these realities and the essence of Editor Rajshekar’s Caste book into consideration, I have prepared a proforma union for each caste in each linguistic state. In AP, it will be “Telugu Bahujan Union” differing from state to state. DV should call for debate before we start organising.

Huge Muslim turn-out, A Dalit Voice report
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Bangalore: The city on Feb.17, 2007 witnessed a huge Muslim conference. What marked the massive turn-out (over one lakh) was that it comprised young, energetic, disciplined and yet angry Muslims. Politicians were scrupulously kept out. It was a gathering of revolutionary youth from the three Southern states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As expected the Brahminical papers blackedout the whole event. Nor was there any TV coverage. The Hindu terrorists from the RSS however were shocked by the discipline of the crowd which hardly had a person over 50. A person close to the Hindu terrorists said he was simply shocked by the military-discipline. How could the idli-sambar chaddi boys face such a motivated Muslim youth, he said. The police said the three-day meet in the sprawling Palace Grounds was incident free. However, some upper caste anti-Muslim elements did infiltrate in the name of secularism, a meaningless word in “Hindu India”, and this was unavoidable in a huge turn-out like this. The conference was inaugurated by a British journalist Alan Hart, whose writings are familiar to DV members and addressed by a Black Muslim scholar from Washington, Dr. Hodari Ali. The organisers — the Kerala-based Popular Front of India — being close to us we had to be associated with the three-day event from beginning to end. And we met hundreds of friends and admirers from all parts of India. Quite a number of them belonged to the DV family. What attracted such a huge turn-out? It is the Muslim fear of the Brahminical terrorist RSS-BJP getting a foothold for the first time in South India — thanks to H.D. Deve Gowda, a former Prime Minister and a rank fascist. His craze for power and pelf made him hand over the state to the Brahmana Jati Party (BJP), which is controlling the state, though his son is a name-sake CM. And to further strengthen their hold on the state and widen their sphere of influence they are planning to convert Karnataka into another Gujarat. The coastal Karnataka district, the stronghold of Hindu terrorists, is supplying the brain and muscle power. The peace-loving Muslims, already reduced to destitution, are deeply worried. This is the cause of the huge turnout at the Feb.17 conference.

AN APPEAL FROM NANDIGRAM AND KOLKATA/ March 15, 2007

AS CPM RUNS AROUND FOR A SCAPEGOAT, POLICE & CADRES KILL 125 IN NANDIGRAM MASSACRE: PEOPLE CALL TO STAND BY STRUGGLE


As the death count of March 14 carnage in Nandigram by the W.Bengal Police and CPM cadres has reached 125, the people, organizations and activists of Nandigram and Kolkata called upon all the people , who value the democracy, human rights and equality of freedom to come to Nandigram and be with the struggling people.

Though the cadres of the ruling Communist Party (Marxist) are blocking the way, the High Court Order on March 15, asks the government to facilitate the people to visit the area for enquiry of help. "The people must show their resolve against the Fascist ways of the so called progressive government and party" said Samar Das, a senior activist from National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), W. Bengal.

The ruling CPM through its cadres has imposed an undeclared censorship on the media and people. It is indulging in double crime – first by beating the Nandigram people to pulp and killing them. But it does not wish the nation or people to see what is happening. " Its like Stalinist days, when you are not allowed to say that there is injustice nor others are allowed to hear or film it", says Mr.Das.

And the great Red-wash effort is on. Their cadres and their septuagenarian elite are afraid to own up the responsibility of this police action. The CPM bosses are making the same statements which a Narendra Modi or Sunderlal Patwa or Sharad Pawar make. Same 'outsider hand',. same 'Naxalites' and very same Opposition people 'who do not want to see W. Bengal to progress'.

While the power holders in CPM have themselves ordered the large police contingent with a planned strategy of carnage on such a large scale, they are now finding everyone else to blame. If only repairs and 'restoring the civil society' had been their objective, did it need 3000 police force with AK-47 rifles? So they have devised the new excuse of 'people exploding bombs on police'. They are in power and that power to like totalitarian state. No one in W. Bengal can go to a Government hospital or school and college, if he or she is not in good books of the CPM boss in that area. And people making the bombs do not undertake protest actions.

There was statewide denunciation of the CPM act. Its own allies in state government, Revolutionary Socialist Party and Forward Bloc called for 'bandh', while the Communist Party of India (CPI) severely criticized the carnage and the decision to send such large posse of police. The intellectuals, artists, social and political workers of all hues have rapped the state government action. The Governor, Mr. Gopal Gandhi, called the killing as " horror" and wanted the state government to restrain itself.

It is Bloodbath, War on People.

About 125-130 men, women and children were killed by the police and the cadres of the ruling Communist Party of India (CPM). Many dead bodies were thrown by police into the nearby river. The dead bodies of children were thrown onto the trenches dug by the villagers to stop any encroachment, and they were filled with soil to make roads – like post-Godhra carnage in Gujarat. According to the people the cadres and police have devastated the Sonachura village; they killed the people, drove them out, looted the houses and raped scores of women. People are seething with anger against the CPM cadres. It is bloodbath; it's a war on people " said Sumit Chowdhury, renowned writer and journalist.

In fact all the villages are ransacked, devastated by the cadres and police. They have blocked entry to journalists and other organizations and one journalist was kidnapped and intimidated to keep quiet. Armed CPI(M) cadres are mixed with the police, fired upon villagers and then attempted to enter the villages. Another group of party activists cordoned off the entire area checked all vehicles to prevent journalists from entering the scene of violence. Several scribes were beaten up. "We wont allow the media to enter the village. So far you were running the show. Now it is our turn," East Midnapur CPM chief and M.P. Lakshman Seth said bluntly.
On March 14, over a 2000-strong police force armed with AK 47 rifles attempted to enter Nandigram, which has been cut off from the rest of the state for over two months now by villagers resisting land acquisition for setting up an SEZ. The first barricade was put up by women and children who resisted the police from entering the villages. The police fired tear gas shells and then rubber bullets and finally live cartridges.
The sudden raid came as a surprise for the villagers as they started running here and there to maintain a safe distance. It was a horrific sight as armed policemen were seen dragging villagers out of their houses and beating them.

"It is like a war. I don't know where my family members are. I never expected such an attack from the policemen," Saber, one of the villagers of Gorchakraberia said. Around 10 am the entire area turned into a battlefield. "I can see every were bodies are scattered all over paddy field smeared with blood. Those who were injured are screaming for help but instead of providing any aid policemen were seen kicking them with their boots," Ehsan one of the local villagers told a journalist over telephone.

Nandigram, Tamluk hospitals were ill-equipped to treat this barrage of injured people. Most of the victims are women and children (in school uniform too). Many contacts in Nandigram are putting the number of injured above 200. All these people were brought to the hospitals by the relatives and neighbors. Police on the spot have not helped even a single victim to avail medical help. There are many more injured lying in the interior villages, unable to move out for want of any means of transport and also for apprehension of getting killed if found by the marauders.

The Plan
The plan to push in police into the trouble-torn and tense area was chalked out by the CPI(M) top brass last Saturday. They were under pressure from the East Midnapur unit of the party led by MP Lakshman Seth who felt that the CPI(M) would permanently lose ground in the area unless barricades were removed and 'normalcy' was restored in Nandigram. A large section of the CPI(M) secretariat was also of the same view and felt that the manner villagers were keeping the administration paralyzed for over two months was creating a bad precedent.
According to the strategy, the police was asked to remove resistance, enter the villages and 'restore law of the land'. They were to be followed by CPI(M) activists, who would "reinstall civil society" in Nandigram. According to Samar Das, unprecedented police force – more than 3000, came on the periphery of Nandigram, " Police were drawn from all districts in Bengal. They have what they wanted to do. Now, we must be here, to be with the Nandigram people - from all over India. "
"No one is 'outsier' here. All are Indians and human beings. It is mischievous on part of Buddnadeb, Biman BAsu and their Sitaram Yechry to all others as outsiders. A true Marxist would never call anyone like that. Ask Sitaram Yechury, an M.P. from Bengal, where he is from? The CPM is becoming offenive out of its guilt complex" said Manav Kamnble, a prominent Dalit social activist in Pune, while addressing a meeting held on on March 15 to condemn the Nandigram carnage and announce Action 2007 of NAPM.
Similarly. large numbers of activists and organizations protested at CPM office in Mumbai. The Sarovidaya activists protested in many district places in Maharashtra. These protests would go on increasing, till the CPM comes to senses and talks with the people.
Sanjay Sangvai

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Pressure on govt, Maran latest to slam SEZ freeze

As pressure builds on the empowered group of ministers led by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to take an early decision on the contentious special economic zone issue, it was today Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran's turn to slam the freeze on SEZ approvals.

Following violent protests over land acquisition in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, the Centre had decided to put on hold all SEZ notifications and approvals till a national relief and rehabilitation policy was formulated.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on 'Saving Doha and Delivering on Development' here on Thursday, Maran urged the Centre to clear proposals "at least where companies have their own land."

He added that companies like Nokia and Flextronics, which wish to set up ancillary units in Tamil Nadu to manufacture keypads and other parts, were adversely affected by the freeze. "There are at least ten pending proposals for setting up of ancillary units which are yet to be cleared," he said.

The prime minister and the EGoM have also received strongly-worded missives from the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat over the last few weeks urging the de-freezing of SEZ approvals.

The delay in clearing SEZ proposals could dissuade investors and had already thrown a spanner in the works of several firms who had invested in equipment, they argued.

The EGoM's decision is likely to impact 173 SEZs, including 63 SEZs which have been notified by the government.
Clash in Nandigram again, Mamata alleges attack
SEZ freeze to remain till UP elections are over
KG NARENDRANATH & MK VENU

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007 03:54:29 AM]

NEW DELHI: The freeze on new SEZ approvals may not be lifted soon. Indications are that the UPA government might go slow on the matter till, at least, the UP elections are over. This is despite that chief ministers of many states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka have intensified the pressure on the Centre to clear pending SEZ proposals, especially those for which land has been acquired, as they fear the current deadlock could dampen investor enthusiasm.

In separate letters to commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath, at least three chief ministers — M Karunanidhi, Narendra Modi and HD Kumaraswamy — have voiced their concern over the freeze caused by the political decision of the ruling UPA not to notify, or approve, any new proposals till a relief and rehabilitation (R&R) policy for farmers being dispossessed by these projects is evolved at the national level.

However, commerce secretary GK Pillai told ET: “It is unlikely that the approval mechanism will resume soon. If things continue to be in a limbo for long, investments could dry up. Potential investors might shift to other countries.” Even in the case of 171 applicants who had got formal nods after land acquisition, the wait for the final notification might not end soon. “I’m concerned about 171 proposals for which land is tied up and formal nods have already been given. It is a different matter for the remaining 162,” Mr Pillai said.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy wrote to the external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the group of ministers (GoM) on SEZs, urging him to expedite notification of already approved SEZs with no pending land acquisition, or R&R issues. Mr Reddy made a strong pitch for the apparel city Sri Lanka’s Brandix proposes to set up at Visakhapatnam wherein 60,000 people are likely to be employed.

In an attempt to counter the criticism that SEZs would hit the farming sector, Mr Reddy said in the letter: “I would like to inform you that Andhra Pradesh has about 2.75 lakh sq km of area which is more than twice that of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu but has only 30% of its arable land provided with irrigation facilities. Even if 1.5 lakh hectares of land is devoted to industry in the next 10 years, this will constitute less than 0.24% of the total land mass of the state.” He said the state government was nevertheless “making every effort to see that no irrigated land is acquired unless absolutely unavoidable”.

Mr Karunanidhi’s letter to Kamal Nath said that the sudden halt in the process of SEZ approvals has sent wrong signals to the investor community. “Many SEZ proposals from Tamil Nadu, which are backed by sound manufacturing investments, have been put on hold. Any delay in taking a decision would have adverse impact on investor confidence and investment,” Mr Karunanidhi said. Tamil Nadu has four SEZs that are operational and has so far obtained nods for 44 SEZs — 16 with in-principle nods, 18 with formal approvals and 10 already notified.

Stating that Bangalore is emerging as a hub for aerospace-related industries (global avionics majors such as EADS, Spirit Aero System and homegrown companies such as Dynamatic Technologies and Shobha Nadathur Aerospace have shown interest in setting up units in Bangalore), Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy sought speedy approval for an aviation cluster zone near the new Bangalore International Airport.

Mr Kumaraswamy noted that land acquisition process for the sector-specific SEZ to be set up by the state government had made a headway. Mr Modi has sought an exemption from the current freeze on approval for the apparel SEZ being planned on sick textile mills’ land in Ahmedabad which is expected to generate 35,000 jobs.



ibnlive.com
Posted Thursday , March 15, 2007 at 16:24

POLITICS OF VIOLENCE: Injured farmers and Mamata recuperate in a Nandigram hospital.


New Delhi: Fresh violence rocked Nandigram village on Thursday as police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas shells on relatives at a hospital where those injured in Wednesday's firing are being treated.The police action started virtually minutes after West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee called Wednesday's violence unfortunate in the state Assembly.


Adding pressure on the Chief Minister, Calcutta High Court in a suo motu action has ordered a CBI inquiry into the police firing that claimed 14 lives so far.


After the hospital commotion, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee was hospitalised when she complained of chest pain after allegedly being hit by a stone while on her way to areas affected by the violence.


"Mamata had to be admitted to Nandigram hospital after she complained of chest pain when she was hit by a stone on her way to Nandigram," a Trinamool Congress leader Anuradha Putatunda said.


Putatunda alleged that Mamta's convoy was repeatedly blocked and attacked by CPI-M supporters who have been picketing on all the roads towards Nandigram.


Demanding the Chief Minister’s resignation for "creating unrest" in West Bengal, Mamata said that she would continue the agitation against farmland acquisition in the state.


Meanwhile, a block development office in Nandigram was set on fire by Trinamool Congress workers.


Nandigram issue stalls Parliament


The Left parties found themselves cornered in Parliament on the killing of farmers in Nandigram in West Bengal as they faced a determined attack by the Opposition which stalled proceedings of both Houses demanding dismissal of the CPI-M-led state government.


Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha saw several adjournments before calling it a day as the BJP-Shiv Sena in the Lower House and the saffron party and the Trinamool Congress in the Upper House created a furor targeting the Left.



Buddhadeb briefs PM on Nandigram violence
Kolkata, March. 15 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee today briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the violence in Nandigram that claimed 14 lives and sent a report on the incident to the Centre.

"I briefed the Prime Minister of what actually happened at Nandigram over telephone," Bhattacharjee told reporters at his chamber in the Assembly.

He said he had also spoken to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, a senior Congress leader from West Bengal.

Bhattacharjee said the situation in Nandigram was slowly returning to normal and his government would not take any hasty step in the area.

Violence erupted in Nandigram after the state government yesterday sent in police to restore order in villages where people had dug up and blocked roads to prevent the entry of the men in uniform after protests against the acquisition of land for industries.

Asked about the token participation of the Left Front's allies RSP and CPI in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's Address to the Assembly, Bhattacharjee said: "I have noted this and will take it up at the Left Front meeting."

Asserting that he would not budge from his stand on the setting up of a Tata Motors' plant in Singur, Bhattacharjee said, "There is no question of backing out (on the project)."

He said he wanted the Opposition to cooperate with the government in advancing industrialisation. "I reiterate my appeal to the Opposition to cooperate with the administration to industrialse the state in every possible manner."

Asked to comment on Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi's virtual indictment of his government for the violence in Nandigram, Bhattacharjee declined to comment.
Nandigram incident has created deep crisis in LF: Bardhan
Kolkata, March. 15 (PTI): The "unprecedented" police firing in Nandigram has created a deep crisis within West Bengal's ruling Left Front, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said today.

Describing yesterday's police action as the "most tragic and unprecedented" incident during the 30-year rule of the Left Front in the state, Bardhan, who rushed here to attend CPI's state secretariat meeting, said there should be transparency and consultations with partners in the coalition on government action.

The "brutal" police action was unusual and unacceptable. It was a "unilateral" step taken in a hurried manner, he said.

The anguish expressed by Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi had come at an appropriate time, he said.

The resistance at Nandigram, Bardhan said, was a result of the people's protest against the attempt by the state government to set up a chemical hub there.

He said that, in a way, the chemical industry was being exported from developed countries like Japan and Germany to third world nations. "Why should they pollute our state?" he asked.

"Although we are working within a bourgeois set-up, but as leftists we should put up some model for others," he said.

Nath defends SEZs, says land acquisition led to violence
New Delhi, March. 15 (PTI): Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today defended the SEZ policy of the Centre and said land acquisition, which led to violence in Nandigram, should be equitable and transparent.

"The land acquisition for all industrial purposes should be equitable, transparent and inclusive of farmers," he told reporters.

He said the incident in Nandigram was unfortunate. However, the SEZ policy should not be held responsible for it.

"Yesterday's incidents in West Bengal are unfortunate... we should not look at it as SEZ issue but one of land acquisition for industrial projects," he said, referring to the protests by activists against SEZs in Nandigram leading to police firing in which 11 people were killed and 75 injured.

Asked whether yesterday's violence could slow down the fresh approvals on SEZs, Nath said in many pending cases there was no dispute and promoters have already tied-up land.

The empowered Group of Ministers on SEZs headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukkerjee could not meet since January and there is a freeze on fresh approvals and notifications.

Nath said when eGoM meets next it would look "distinctively" at the cases where land was not an issue and where acquisition was a problem. However, there is uncertainty over the next meeting of the GoM. In most of the pending 172 cases awaiting notification, the land has been tied up without any protests.

In fact, five Chief Ministers and some Union Ministers have written to the eGoM to notify the pending cases.

He said the Centre has asked the State Governments to provide details of land acquisition. When the reply is received it would be placed before the eGoM for directions on future of SEZs.

Nandigram: Left cornered, Opposition stalls proceedings
New Delhi, March. 15 (PTI): The Left parties today found themselves cornered in Parliament on the killing of farmers in Nandigram in West Bengal as they faced a determined attack by the Opposition which stalled proceedings of both Houses demanding dismissal of the CPI(M)-led State Government.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha saw several adjournments before calling it a day as the BJP-Shiv Sena in the Lower House and the saffron party and the Trinamool Congress in the Upper House created a furore targeting the Left.

No business could be transacted in either House in spite of the fact that in the Lok Sabha Finance Minister P Chidambaram was to reply to the discussion on the General Budget.

The ruling side had issued a three-line whip for the purpose.

Despite being key outside allies of the UPA, neither the Congress nor any other party in the ruling alliance came out to offer a helping hand to the Left.

A couple of days ago in the Lok Sabha, the Maritime University Bill controversy had left the Left embarrassed due to conduct of its members.

It was trouble from the word go today in both the Houses which saw slogans like "Communists are murderers" and "Communist high-handedness will not be tolerated" being raised by the Opposition which stormed the well in the Lok Sabha.

Uproar over Nandigram killings, RS adjourns for day
New Delhi, March 15. (PTI): Uproar over the killing of farmers in police firing at Nandigram in West Bengal today stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha leading to its adjournment for the day.

Right from the word go, angry opposition members did not allow the House to run forcing its first adjournment for an hour within minutes of its assembling.

BJP and other opposition members shouting slogans against the Left Front West Bengal Government raked up the issue again when the House reassembled at noon.

As Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan called for tabling of papers, the entire opposition stood up to raise the issue.

Sensing the mood, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.

Trouble began in the Upper House when Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh rose to speak on the issue.

As soon as Singh stood up, Brinda Karat (CPI-M) asked Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat under what rule the issue, a state subject, was being raised.

This triggered an angry reaction from BJP members who raised slogans.

Lone Trinamool Congress member Dinesh Trivedi sought suspension of the Question Hour to take up discussion on the issue.

Congress members, however, raised slogans "we want Question Hour".

Sensing the mood, Shekhawat adjourned the House till 1200 hours.


CPI(M) ready for CBI probe into Nandigram firing
New Delhi, March. 15 (PTI): Facing flak for the police firing on villagers in Nandigram, the CPI(M) today said its government in West Bengal was "absolutely open" for any transparent probe including by the CBI to bring out the "truth".