Nandigram and the voice of alternative development

To
His Excellency
The Governor of West Bengal
Raj Bhavan
Kolkata 700 062


Sir,

We express our deepest discontent on experiencing the effects of this globalization and neo-liberal methods applied as means of development especially in the context of West Bengal.

It strikes our all senses when we have to visualize the brutal, barbaric and rampageous attack of State-power upon the villagers in Bengal, Nandigram and Singur in particular.

The shameful violation of democratic rights in the name of gargantuan industrialization becomes the easy way of expressing dominance by the Government of West Bengal and CPI (M) led by Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.

The resistance by the peasants having the heritage of Tebhaga Movement proves total rejection of the so-called model of development.

In this juncture we would like to request to your good self to take positive steps not only to honour the struggling people and to compel this West Bengal Government not to take such dangerous path in future, but also to take initiative to call for building of an alternative model of development.

One of the core lessons of the neoliberal experiment has surely been that, globalization must not be approached with one-size-fits-all policies. Unfortunately our so-called pro poor government of West Bengal also tries to fit this neoliberal model of development as its prime policy to do good for millions of poor peasants in West Bengal.

No doubt, we want industrialization but not at the cost of the future of toiling people and also that of our earth.

We firmly believe that another world is possible with another model of development.

Yours faithfully