All party meet on Nandigram likely to be held on May 26

Kolkata, May 15(UNI) The proposed all-party meeting for restoration of peace in Nandigram is likely to be held here on May 26.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee gave assent to the proposed date when veteran Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghosh today telephoned her in Delhi.

''I asked Ms Banerjee over phone whether May 26 would suit her as the date for the all-party talks. She said she had no problem with it, '' Mr Ghosh told reporters.

Earlier, the Forward Bloc leader met Left Front Chairman Biman Basu to discuss technicalities for the proposed meet, which had been eluding the state for long delaying peace process for the strife-torn Nandigram.

It was learnt that the meeting decided to give Ms Banerjee full liberty in the selection of date, venue and the political parties, supposed to take part in the meeting.

Yesterday, an urgent meeting of the Left Front, attended among others, by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, reversed its earlier decision and accepted the demand of the Trinamool leader that an all-party meeting should be held first at the state level before going for discussions in the troubled East Midnapore district.

Conceding to Ms Banerjee's wishes, the Front also authorised Mr Ghosh to act as a go between and convene the proposed meeting in consultation with the Left Front Chairman and the Trinamool leader.

Ms Banerjee, who had been persistently refusing to join any peace talks, called by the state Government, rang up Mr Ghosh on May eight requesting him to convene an all-party meeting to end the political stand-off in Nandigram.

Political violence broke in Nandigram in January claiming several lives as a major section of the local people took up arms following reports of land acquisition for an SEZ.

The situation aggravated on March 14 when at least 14 villagers were killed in police firing when the administration tried a forced entry in the area that virtually remained a free zone.

Even after the Government declared that no land would be acquired, clashes continued to take place between CPI(M) supporters and members of the Bhoomi Uchched Protirodh Committee rendering more than 4,000 people evicted and leaving hundreds of houses gutted.

With roads still being dug up by the Protirodh Committee members, the area remained inaccessible to outsiders, including police for more than four months and all development and administrative work came to a standstill.

UNI