Left question Governor's role on Nandigram

New Delhi, Nov 10: Irked over West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi going public on the latest developments in Nandigram, Left parties today said it was unbecoming of the person holding the high office since he was well within his constitutional rights to communicate his views to the State and Union Government.

The CPI(M) and CPI said Mr Gandhi's statement on Nandigram was ''uncalled for'' and ''unbecoming'' and wondered whether a Governor could go public on such matters when he was regularly being briefed by the state administration.

The Left parties' strong reaction came close on the heels of Mr Gandhi terming the situation in Nandigram as a ''war zone'', its ''capturing and recapturing'' being unlawful and unconstitutional. He had asked the administration to remove unauthorised blocks at entry points as well as the ''ill treatment'' meted out to social activist Medha Patkar.

Mr Gandhi was embroiled in a similar controversy a few months ago on the Nandigram issue.

While the CPI(M) West Begnal unit said they expected impartial statements from the Governor, the party Polit Bureau in a statement here said, ''The content of the statement makes it clear that this is not the role expected from the office of the Governor under the Constitution.'' CPI National Secretary and Rajya Sabha Member D Raja said it was unfortunate that the Governor had chosen to be part of the debate on Nandigram. '' His going public raises the basic constitutional issue whether the Governor can go public on such matters when he has been regularly briefed by the state administration.'' ''The statement issued by him regarding the latest developments in Nandigram is alarming. It is well-known that from January, violence has been engineered in Nandigram and normal life disrupted'', the CPI(M) Polit Bureau said.

''For the past ten months, thousands have been driven out of their homes and the State administration prevented from functioning in the area'', it said, adding, the Governor had been fully apprised of the reasons behind the abnormal situation." Mr Raja said as Mr Gandhi was not kept in the dark by the State administration, he should have avoided making the statement, which was ''totally unwarranted''.

UNI