Bangla bandh begins

Kolkata, Jan 8 (UNI) West Bengal Pradesh Congress' 24-hour Bangla Bandh against alleged police atrocities on innocent farmers in Nandigram in East Midnapore district and the government's ''forceful acqusition'' of farmland from them, began here at 0600 hours today.

Supporting the bandh, All India Trinamool Congress has also called for a 12-hour statewide bandh from 0600 hours.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) general secretary Manas Bhuinyan and opposition leader and senior TMC leader Partho Chatterjee announced their decision for the bandh in their separate news conferences yesterday.

The two lambasted the state government and the law enforcing agencies for violating the peaceful atmosphere at Nandigram, which, according to them, was already simmering in tension because of the rumours about forceful acqusition of nearly 22,000 acres of multiple crop land like in Singur, in the name of industrialisation.

Meanwhile, Left Front Chairman Biman Basu asked the government to initiate all possible steps to restore peace in Nandigram and urged the people to discard the bandh call given by the opposition.

''The people of the state are democracy loving. They will decide whether they will like another bandh. All examinations will go unhindered and the government offices will remain opened. There will be public transport available and even if there is a derth I request the people to go out on foot,''" he said.

Reacting to reports Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said, ''We had made no such proposal about acquiring land in Nandigram. It is a result of rumours.'' ''The situtaion has emerged in the state because of a whispering campaign by some parties spreading rumours about the acquisition of land for SEZ in Nandigram,'' he added saying that I am sure the general people will discard the bandh as nobody wants it.

''Its not about getting political mileage, its about the well being of the state,'' Chief Minister Bhattacharjee said.

''A bandh cannot benifit anyone. Even the farmers in Singur were affected by the bandh call. It is anti-progress. I am once again inviting the opposition parties to sit across the table and discuss the issues,'' he said.

Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward situation. Police are keeping a vigil in Nandigram to prevent any further violence.

UNI