Date:25/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/25/stories/2007052508431200.htm

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Mamata walks out of all-party meeting

Special Correspondent

Boycotts talks in protest against Minister's `justification' of March 14 killings

Purpose of talks served: Ashok Ghosh

"CPI (M) in favour of peace process"

PHOTO: PTI

FOR CONSENSUS: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee (second from right) and other party leaders at an all-party meeting on Nandigram in Kolkata on Thursday.

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and her associates walked out of the all-party meeting convened here on Thursday for the restoration of peace in Nandigram.

"We boycotted the meeting in protest against a Minister [of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)], on behalf of the Left Front government, justifying the mass killings [in police firing on March 14] at Nandigram", Ms. Banerjee said later. "For as long we are alive we will not tolerate such justifications."

Senior All India Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghosh, entrusted by the Left Front to arrange the peace talks with the Opposition, who had convened the meeting said the purpose of the meeting had been served and the talks were successful, though there "is need for further all-party meetings till peace is restored at Nandigram." "Mamata Banerjee said all she had to say and we heard her with great patience."

CPI (M) leader Shyamal Chakravarty was among those who represented the party.

Thirty supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party were arrested outside the venue of the meeting for allegedly obstructing entry as part of their protest against the holding of the talks to which the party had not been invited.