Date:05/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/05/stories/2008030555251300.htm

National

Let CPI (M) cadres maintain peace: Mamata

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress leadership scoffed at Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s appeal to the Opposition to work together for development and peace in the Nandigram area.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said here on Tuesday that it was Mr Bhattacharjee “who is responsible for the violence at Nandigram.” “He is now talking of peace. Instead of asking us he should tell his party men to maintain peace,” she added.

“Nandigram would have been up in flames had we wanted trouble there” but her party had shown restraint in the face of provocation, Ms. Banerjee said.

Mr. Bhattcharjee had sought the cooperation of the Opposition parties in ensuring peace and development in Nandigram earlier in the day.

Partha Chatterjee, general secretary of the party, wondered how such an appeal can be made by Mr. Bhattacharjee “when he has failed to control the armed cadres of his own party who have been responsible for the unrest in the region.”

Mr. Chatterjee, who is also leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, accused the State government of coming in the way of the Central Reserve Police Force that had been deployed in Nandigram to restore peace and instil confidence among the people there.

Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Manas Bhunia, alleged that those who had been handed over pattas (land ownership deeds) at a function in which the Chief Minister was present in Nandigram were largely supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).