'Central intervention needed into Nandigram issue'

Kolkakta, Apr 29: Holding the Chief Minister responsible for thefresh violence in Nandigram, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjeetoday renewed her call for central intervention into the alleged stateterrorism while announcing a string of agitational programmes in WestBengal.

''Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is playing with blood.

He is directly responsible for the continued state-sponsoredterrorism, unleashed by police and CPI(M) men. She has no right tocontinue in the office and should be sacked,'' she told a newsconference at her residence.

Ms Banerjee said the party's Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Dwivedi hadmade a representation in the Prime Minister's Office this morningcalling for immediate central intervention into the Nandigram affairs.

Alleging that the situation in Nandigram aggravated because ofChief Minister's ''threatening to the opposition'' at a rally in North24-Parganas district yesterday, Ms Banerjee said the CPI(M) cadres fromoutside attacked the area (Nandigram) leading to the clashes.

She also alleged that the CPI(M) men used long range sophisticated rifles, provided by police.

''After the March 14 incident we have repeatedly called forrestoration of peace. But the Government has done nothing. What can wedo if the Government wants to continue state-sponsored terrorism ?''she asked.

At least one person was killed and four were injured in today'sclashes between members of the Trinamool Congress-led Bhoomi UchchedProtirodh Committee and CPI(M) supporters.

Ms Banerjee, who had warned against, however, evaded a questionover the political identity of the person, a CPI(M) supporter, killedin today's violence.

The Trinamool leader alleged the administration was not taking anyaction against those responsible for the March 14 killings while it hadfalsely implicated 1950 Trinamool supporters in different cases.

Observing that the state Government was being run only by theCPI(M), and not by a coalition, Ms Banerjee called upon all otherpolitical parties, including the smaller partners of the ruling LeftFront to ''take to the streets'' in protest against the unabatedviolence in Nandigram.

She announced that a Trinamool Congress delegation would visitNandigram while the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee, a platform ofopposition parties would put up road blocks in different areas of thecity tomorrow and organise protest rallies in every block on May one aspart of the movement programme. Trinamool workers would also gheraopolice stations througout the state on May two.

UNI

Related Stories