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Rallies mark Nandigram anniversary

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Processions and rallies were taken out at Nandigram and here on Friday, first anniversary of the police firing and subsequent violence, which claimed 14 lives in the village in East Midnapore district.

Addressing a congregation at Gokulnagar, Nandigram, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the people would give a fitting reply to the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government for the “carnage.”

“Violence continues”

Condemning the “atrocities committed by CPI(M) cadres on the innocent people of Nandigram,” Ms. Banerjee said even after a year “those responsible had not been punished.” There was no cessation in violence in the area.

The day was observed as “Martyrs and Peasants’ Day” by the Trinamool Congress-led Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, Ms. Banerjee said. “The people of Nandigram have resisted attempts to evict them from their land, it is now their turn to evict the CPI(M) from power,” she said.

An urn containing earth dug up in Nandigram was placed in front of the Gandhi statue by Trinamool workers after it was brought there in a procession led by Ms. Banerjee. A one-minute silence was observed in memory of those killed in the violence. “The movements in Nandigram and in Singur [where the Trinamool is demanding that land allegedly forcibly acquired for the Tata Motors project be returned to owners] will continue as they are a people’s movement,” Ms. Banerjee said.

Social activist Medha Patkar and Pravash Ghosh, State secretary of the Socialist Unity Centre of India — a new Trinamool ally — addressed the rally.

In Nandigram, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi led a silent procession and placed wreaths at one of the memorial tombs.

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