Congress to observe "Black Day" tomorrow

Kolkata, Nov 12 (UNI) Pradesh Congress working president Pradip Bhattacharya today pledged moral support to the Opposition-sponsored bandh here tomorrow by observing a 'Black Day' in protest against the Nandigram incident.

''Though we have not called for a bandh tomorrow, we will not oppose it as it has been called for the victims of Nandigram. The bandh has our moral support,'' he told the media here.

Mr Bhattacharrya said, ''Tomorrow we will observe a black day in Bengal and on November 14 join the rally, orgainsed by the Intellectual Forum without any party flag or banner. We will join to show our solidarity with the people of Nandigram.'' Mr Bhattacharya congratulated the people for making today's bandh a complete success. The bandh was called by four Opposition parties, including the Congress, CPI(ML-Liberation), BJP and SUCI along with 'Immobilise Bengal' call given by the Trinamool Congress.

''We don't believe in the politics of murder. We want peace to be restored in Nandigram as fast as possible. Therefore we are with all protesting the escalating violence, perpetrated by the CPI(M) in Nandigram,'' he said.

Reacting to CPI(M) State Secretary Biman Bose's statement that a 'new sun has risen in Nandigram', he said, ''If he is happy to see a sun rise dipped in the blood of the people of Nandigram, I have nothing to say. The Marxist government should not forget that guns cannot bring peace.'' Congress Legislature party leader Manas Bhuiya comparing Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee with Pakistan President Pervez Mushharaf, said, ''There is no difference between Nandigram and Pakistan. It is a state of emergency.'' ''We demand an explanation why the state police initially did not give the names of Midnapore CPI(M) district committee members Sukur Ali and Tapan Ghosh to the CBI after they were arrested at Egra,'' he questioned.

UNI