Sonia sends delegation to Nandigram, Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi will send two delegations, one each to Nandigram and Chhattisgarh, to study the situation and the causes that led to the violence there.

Senior Congress leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi told mediapersons here that the delegation leaving here for Nandigram tomorrow would consist of Dr Karan Singh, Mrs Mohsina Kidwai and Mr Madhusudan Mistry.

The delegation to Chhattisgarh would consist of Mukul Wasnik, Ms Melvil Reibello and Congress Parliamentary Party General Secretary Kishan Chand Deo.

Replying to a question, Mr Dasmunsi said the Congress would not be a part of the joint delegation going to Nandigram as it was not a case of communal violence.

Criticising members of the Opposition NDA for interrupting the Budget reply by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha today, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said this was ''shocking and unfortunate''.

He said though the financial business had been completed in the Lok Sabha today, the manner in which it was done was ''undesirable''. He regretted that in spite of the fact that he had talked to the leader of the Opposition in the Lower House L K Advani yesterday seeking BJP's cooperation in the smooth passage of the Budget, ''the obstruction was caused in the Budget reply despite all forums being avaialble to register their project''.

''The behaviour of the BJP was unprecedented and unfortunate,'' Mr Dasmunsi said, adding ''the Budget is for the people not for the party.'' The Parliamentary Affairs Minister expressed the hope that the Rajya Sabha would complete the financial business by March 21.

Describing naxal violence in tribal Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh as a ''serious issue, Mr Dasmunsi called for uniting efforts in curbing naxalite violence.

UNI