Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Nandigram issue

The recent happenings in West Bengal remind me of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, in which men of all hues conspire to assassinate the central character. It is obvious that the Congress, the BJP, and the Trinamool Congress have got together to destabilise the Left Front Government over the Nandigram issue.

What is more disturbing is the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind also playing into the hands of these parties. The Jamiat should understand that the March 14 police firing was not targeted at any community. That there has hardly been any communal clash during the three decades of the Left Front rule in the State is enough proof of good governance.

Syed Sultan Mohiddin,
Kadapa

* * *

It has become habitual for Mamata Banerjee to oppose any good government proposal. She needs to open her eyes to the reality. She should iron out her differences with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and work towards the economic development of the State. She should educate the poor on the benefit reforms will bring in the long run.

C.M. Jose Manjaly Chakku,
Gopalpur-on-sea, Orissa

* * *

While industrial development is essential for the progress of the country, it is equally important that agriculture gets its due share. The new Special Economic Zones will only bolster lopsided economic development and leave the suffering farmers in acute distress. We need to develop a policy that will ensure that agriculture flourishes while industry continues to grow.

S. Poongulali,
Chennai

* * *

To commit a mistake is normal. But the West Bengal Government's action, not standing on prestige, withdrawing the proposal to acquire land at Nandigram deserves praise. The move shows that feeling the people's pulse is no easy matter even for their representatives.

D. Seshadri,
Srirangam

* * *

L.K. Advani's demand that Article 355 be invoked in the context of the Nandigram violence is ironical. As Union Home Minister in 2002, he did not deem it necessary to invoke Article 355 to direct the Gujarat Government to prevent the mindless violence that killed thousands of innocent people. Why do politicians adopt double standards? Can we not institutionalise the system in such a manner that the process of preventing violence is set in motion without anyone's direction?

Kattari Ananda Naidu,
Chennai

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