in the incidents which occurred from 6 to 12 November. The report further stated that the State Government has decided to pay Rs. 10,000 for each fully damaged house, Rs. 5,000 for each partially damaged house and Rs. 1,000 per affected family for utensils and household goods. It was also stated in the report that sanction for ex-gratia payment in accordance with the orders of the High Court, is currently under process. 6.129 On the basis of factual report submitted by the Investigation team, the Commission made a few general observations for the unfortunate incidents of Nandigram for which neither the concerned political parties nor NGOs involved could escape their share of responsibility: • The police and the bureaucracy should keep themselves aloof from political influence. Alignment with the party in power results in erosion of public trust which leads to unavoidable misery. • The party in power should always be alive to its constitutional obligation to rule without favour and prejudice. It should never encourage or connive with the illegal activities of its supporters. • The opposition has a right to highlight the failures of the Government and to educate the people about the policies which it considers harmful. While it may take recourse to peaceful agitation, it should in no case encourage people to indulge in unlawful activities. • There should be a continuous dialogue between the party in power and the opposition and such dialogue should always be motivated by a concern for the good of the people at large. • The press has a pivotal role to play in a democratic set up, therefore, it should always adopt a balanced and unbiased approach in reporting the events. In the case of Nandigram, the Press did a commendable job by highlighting the atrocities on people but it failed in its duty to emphasize that the blockade of a large area of Nandigram by the agitators was unconstitutional. • Whether agricultural land should be acquired or not for industry or projects like SEZ is a moot question. Agriculture being the only source of livelihood for the farmers, compensation in terms of money for acquisition of their land may not be adequate. In the process of rehabilitation of such displaced people as a result of acquisition of land, the Government should take the local people into confidence and it should also ensure alternative means of livelihood and shelter for the displaced. Whether in addition to monetary compensation, any other land can be given to relocate or can be linked to the project for which the land is acquired by allocating adequate number of shares and providing employment to at least one National Human Rights Commission 55