Nandigram firing: CM never wanted to step down

Kolkata, Mar 23: Veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu today categorically denied that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had wanted to step down owning responsibility for the Nandigram police firing.

''Not at all. All these talks are absurd,'' he said while replying to a question on a press report that the chief minister had expressed wishes within the state leadership to resign.

Mr Basu's denial came a few days after CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters that Mr Bhattacharjee had been elected to the post by the people's representative and there was no question of his resignation.

Talking to newsmen after attending the party's state secretariat meeting, Mr Basu said action would be taken if it was proved that police had really committed excess during the Nandigram operation on March 14.

The party's state committee would discuss tomorrow the entire matter related to Nandigram and decide its future course of action.

Replying to a question on the judicial order for a CBI probe into the Nandigram incident, he said the Supreme Court was weighing whether it was justified.

''The Supreme Court is looking into whether Calcutta High Court has the right to give such an order,'' Mr Basu said.

The CBI yesterday submitted its interim report to the High Court, which had fixed the date of hearing on the matter on March 26.

''What legal action will be taken will be known on Monday,'' Mr Basu said.

UNI

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