Join all-party meet : CPI(M) asks Trinamool
Kolkata, May 2 (UNI) As the Nandigram unrest refused to die down, the CPI(M) today appealed to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to participate in the next all-party meeting and offer a ''peaceful formula'' to put an end to the months-long impasse in the area.
''I urge Ms Banerjee to join the all-party meet and offer her peace formula to help normalise the situation,'' CPI(M) state committee secretary Biman Basu said at a party programme.
Observing that the impasse in Nandigram could end only through a successful all-party meeting, Mr Basu said restoration of peace and normalcy in the area was of utmost importance.
Mr Basu's appeal came in the wake of repeated failures of all-party meetings because of the non-participation of the Opposition parties, particularly the Trinamool Congress, which had been alleging unabated terror by CPI(M) workers.
Nandigram erupted into flames once again on April 29 when at least one person was killed and 10 were injured in series of clashes between members of the Trinamool-led Bhoomi Uchched Protirodh Committee and CPI(M) activists.
While the BUPC put the blame for the violence on its arch political rival, CPI(M) supporters alleged that supporters of the Opposition party had mounted an unprovoked attack on them.
Even after an official announcement that no land would be taken over for industry, Nandigram remained a battle zone for more than four months with roads lying dug up, police being denied entry and economic activities paralysed in the area.
With the Opposition remaining adamant against any all-party meet ''unless the CPI(M) stopped attacking the area from outside'', skirmishes continued to be a regular feature.
Apprehending a repeat of the March 14 incident in which at least 14 people were killed, the government asked police to act in a restrained manner while retying more on the ''good sense'' of the Opposition.
Even though the Calcutta High Court asked the state government to restore normalcy in the area, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee made it clear that he would continue to depend on a political process rather than depending on police to set things right in the strife-torn area.
UNI