Date:12/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/12/stories/2007111259771400.htm

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Situation is totally unacceptable, says Mohsina Kidwai

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday described the situation in Nandigram as “totally unacceptable” and demanded that the guilty – irrespective of party affiliation – be brought to book without delay.

In a statement, the All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of West Bengal, Mohsina Kidwai, said: “The primary responsibility of any government worth its name is to protect its citizens and ensure the safety and security of their lives and property. Unfortunately, it is not happening so in Nandigram.”

Ms. Kidwai said news reports indicated that the writ of the State government does not run in the area. “This situation is totally unacceptable.”

The BJP has decided to send a four-member delegation to Nandigram over the next couple of days to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation there.

The members are S.S. Ahluwalia, Karuna Shukla, Balbir Punj and Ashok Pradhan.

BJP president Rajnath Singh demanded central intervention. He said the situation was “explosive” in Nandigram. Both the West Bengal government and the Central government failed “miserably” in addressing the grievances of common people.”

The BJP president said “hundreds of people have been driven out of their homes in the face of the unabated violence.”

Of the view that the overall situation in the State clearly reflected complete breakdown of law and order, Mr. Singh expressed the BJP’s solidarity with the farmers and villagers who are fighting “the injustice being meted out to them.”

The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, said the former West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, could play a key role in restoring normality in the area.

Demanding action against those who misbehaved with activist Medha Patkar, he said the process of dialogue should go on.