Basu asks Opposition to participate in all-party meet

Kolkata, Apr 27 (UNI) In a bid to silence the Opposition parties, veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu today asked them to participate in the all-party meeting at Nandigram to put forth their allegations against the CPI(M).

'' Why are they not attending the all-party meeting at Nandigram? They can record their allegations and people will know if armed CPI(M) men have attacked Nandigram,'' he told reporters after attending the party's state secretariat meeting.

Alleging that they did not have any faith in the administration, a high level Pradesh Congress delegation yesterday urged Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi to convene an all-party meeting to restore peace in Nandigram.

Echoing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, PCC Working President Pradip Bhattacharjee alleged that though Chief Minister had been making repeated calls, it was difficult for the Opposition to participate in any all-party meet, convened by the Government since CPI(M) cadres were continuing armed attacks on Nandigram from outside.

However, rejecting the plea, Mr Basu today said the Opposition parties were not deposing before the Executive Inquiry Committee, headed by a Divisional Commissioner either. ''They can say whatever they have to say before the Executive Inquiry Committee too,'' he said.

With successive all-party meetings failing to take place because of the absence of Opposition representatives, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said on Wednesday last that restoration of normalcy in Nandigram would not be possible without their cooperation.

Renewing his appeal to the opposition parties, especially the Trinamool Congress, Mr Bhattacharjee said he had asked the East Midnapore district administration to call another all-party meeting.

However, virtually turning down his appeal, Ms Banerjee declared the same day at a rally at Nandigram that her party would not take part in any such meeting unless the CPI(M) stopped ''violence''.

UNI