Bukhari returns after facing stiff resistance

Nandigram, East Midnapur, Jun 12 (UNI) The Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, today returned empty handed after he confronted with the members of Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee, opposing land acquisition for chemical hub.

He could not even enter the trouble spots of Nandigram and meet the families of the dead and the injured following altercations with members of BUPC while trying to address mediapersons after a meeting with his community members inside a mosque.

At about 1100 hours the Imam had entered the Mosque under heavy police protection. He was trying to impress on the minority community that the situation developed out of misunderstanding between the members of the two communities, a spokesman of BUPC said.

The Imam said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had assured him in Kolkata yesterday the Government will not setup any chemical hub here. He said there was an urgent need of restoring law and order situtation here.

Following his speech he was preparing for another address to a news conference at the same spot but then the members of Protirodh Committee started interrupting him time and again and urged him not to ''misinterpret'' facts by talking to one community only.

''Why have you come to preach here after listening to Buddhadev Bhattachariya alone? You should have assessed the situation by talking to the people of all communities here. No communal preaching will be allowed here'', they said.

Assessing the attitude of the local people Syed Ahmed Bukhari decided to go back. The police managed the situation from deteriorating further, Superintendent of Police, East Midnapur District, G Srinivasan said.

'' Mr Bukhari came to disturb the newly created peaceful atmosphere here by preaching communal sentiments. We have sent him back'' Sisir Adhikary, MLA and leader of the Protirodh committee, said.

UNI