Nandigram peace talks end in fiasco

Kolkata, May 24 (UNI) The all-party peace talks on Nandigram were adjourned today when Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee staged a walk-out demanding discussions on the alleged genocide on March 14.

Embroiled in a heated row with the CPI(M) representatives whether mass killing and rape took place in Nandigram on March 14, the Trinamool leader also demanded that those guilty be punished before leaving the venue with her six associates.

Most of the political parties, including the CPI(M), Trinamool Congress, Congress and the smaller Left Front partners, including the Forward Bloc, RSP and CPI took part in the meeting.

Forward Bloc state Secretary Ashok Ghosh, who convened the meeting, however, said efforts were on to keep the peace process on tracks and another all-party meeting would be held after bilateral discussions with different parties.

''Today's meeting has been adjourned. We have differences over several basic issues which cannot be sorted in a single day. It has been decided that more talks are required to overcome the problems for which we need to do more homework,'' Mr.Ghosh later told reporters.

Ms Banerjee alleged at a news conference that the CPI(M) played a spoilsport in frustrating the meeting and the party was not at all sorry for what happened in Nandigram.

''I pointed out that the resolution for the meeting did not have any mention of the genocide and unless those guilty are punished, peace cannot be restored,'' she said.

Ms Banerjee, however, said her party wanted peace to come back in Nandigram and she would be available for further meetings, if called by Mr Ghosh.

She was assisted by Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Partha Chatterjee and party MLA Sisir Adhikary, among others.

But refusing to accept that party cadres took part in the killing of many people, including children, on March 14, CPI(M) representatives contended that there was no such proof nor was there any allegation from any family.

''We just clarified our stand on the false allegations the Trinamool has been making. We disagreed with the word genocide which has a different meaning. What really happened will be revealed when an official report will be published by the court which is looking into it,'' CPI(M) Central Committee member Shyamal Chakraborty said.

However, stressing that the peace process would continue, Mr Chakraborty said the party would pursue with all efforts to keep it going.

Mr Chakraborty was accompanied by the party's state Secretariat member Madan Ghosh and state Committee member Subhash Chakrabory, who is also the Transport Minister.

UNI