Opposition walkout from Assembly protesting Nandigram incident

Kolkata, Mar 14 (UNI) The entire opposition staged a noisy walkout from the West Bengal Assembly today demanding an immediate statement from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on the Nandigram incident in which four people were allegedly killed in police firing.

Surrounding the Speaker's podium, members of the opposition Trinamool Congress and Congress shouted slogans demanding resignation of Mr Bhattacharjee as Home Minister owning responsibility for the 'bloodbath' in the strife-torn area.

Raising a point of information after Question Hour, leader of the opposition Partha Chatterjee alleged that four villagers had been shot dead and 15 were seriously injured in the firing while resisting police from entering the area.

Describing the situation as dangerous, Mr Chatterjee said about 3000 police personnel entered Nandigram area through Tekhali and opened fire in Bhangabera area.

Demanding that the administration immediately stop the 'killing spree,' he wanted the Chief Minister to come to the House immediately and make a statement on the situation.

All the opposition members rose to their feet supporting the demand and gheraoed the Speaker's podium raising slogans against the Chief Minister.

Though Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim assured them that the Chief Minister would make a statement 'either today or tomorrow,' the agitated opposition members insisted that Mr Bhattacharjee should be called immediately.

Meanwhile, the lone SUCI member Debabrata Sarkar demanded the House be adjourned to discuss Nandigram situation.

However, without paying any heed to the demand, the Speaker continued the proceedings calling for laying of reports of different standing committees.

Continuing over the uproar of about 15 minutes, the opposition members left the House in protest against the Speaker's refusal to comply with their demand.

A section of the furious Trinamool Congress and Congress members squatted on the Assembly lobby while others thumbed tables, tore off papers and shouted slogans.

The leader of the opposition alleged that the government was acting high handedly against the Nandigram people who had been opposing the reported government move to acquire agricultural land for setting up of a chemical hub.

He also alleged that police were acting like CPI(M) cadres while the administration had unleashed a reign of terror in the area.

UNI