NDA leaders request Kalam to visit Nandigram

National Democratic Alliance leaders have pleaded with President A P J Abdul Kalam to spare a couple of hours from his busy schedule and visit Nandigram as this would provide the much needed assurance to the victims of 'trauma of violence'.

The delegation was led by leader of opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani.

"Rashtrapatiji, the entire country admires your empathy with ordinary, voiceless people. They in turn look to you as a source of inspiration and succour. The people of Nandigram are waiting for your reassurance, your healing touch, to overcome the trauma of violence to which they have been subjected.

"We appeal to you to spare a few hours at your earliest convenience to visit the affected villages and comfort the terrorised people there. It will bring a bit of cheer to their lives and restore their faith in a system that has been so unfair to them. We are confident you will consider this appeal favourably," they said in a memorandum that was submitted to President Kalam.

Advani pointed out that though the state police fired only 20 rounds at the agitators, the number of dead and injured exceeds the number of bullets fired.

"The fact that while police have admitted to firing only 20 rounds, the number of dead and those injured by bullets far exceeds that figure is conclusive proof of the active participation of the cadres of the state's ruling party in conducting this murderous campaign," he said while talking to newsmen after the meeting in the foreground of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Advani alleged that women were gangraped and the Communist Party of India-Marxist cadres fired on fleeing villagers including women and children.

"The fact that all the dead and injured received gunshot wounds above the waist testifies to the murderous intention of the attackers," the memorandum said.

NDA demanded that a special thana be set up in Nandigram so that the people could come and register their FIRs against the culprits who had unleashed the reign of terror.

NDA leaders asked the President to ensure that the Central government directs government of West Bengal to stop violence in the area and remove party cadres from the area.

"Take all effective administrative steps to restore a sense of security and confidence among the people. Order the withdrawal of the state police from the affected region and replace it with Central paramilitary forces. Ask the state government to withdraw the notification for acquisition of land and categorically assure the people that the no land will be acquired from farmers in this area.

"Direct the West Bengal government to establish a special thana in Nandigram with the specific purpose of registering FIRs and noting complaints about police and CPI-M cadre atrocities, charges of rape, reports about missing persons and other such grievances. This special police post must be instructed to register all complaints without asking complainants to procure written permission from the CPI-M local committee, which shockingly, is the norm in many parts of West Bengal, and ensure disbursement of adequate compensation to the families of the dead and injured," the NDA leaders demanded.