'Nandigram violence should not have happened'

New Delhi, Mar 21: Hours ahead of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee meeting tonight, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Nandigram violence was a sad incident and should not have taken place. ''It was a very sad incident. It should not have happened,'' Dr Singh said in his first public reaction to the violence that left 14 people dead in Nandigram, West Bengal last week.

The Prime Minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The issue had rocked both House of Parliament with the BJP-led NDA Opposition stalling the proceedings, demanding the resignation of Left Front Government in West Bengal.

On the economic front, Dr Singh said there were positive growth signs with strong saving and investment fundamentals. ''Growth impulse is there. But there is a problem area-- inflation rate,'' he added. For reducing inflation, he said, the RBI has taken certain steps. On his proposed meeting with PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Prime Minister said he would not like to speculate.

''The Mufti is an old friend of mine, and I will be meeting him today or tomorrow,'' he said.

UNI