Nandigram violence was unfortunate: CPI

New Delhi, Nov 14: The CPI today admitted that the 'method' adopted by the West Bengal government in dealing with the Nandigram violence was not appropriate and described the developments as ''unfortunate'', but denied that there was any ''Left divide'' on the issue in the state.

''It is true that what should have been done by the state government, should have not been done by others,'' said CPI senior leader and party Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta at a press conference.

Party Deputy leader in the Lower House C K Chandrappan and party leader in the Rajya Sabha D Raja were also present.

On insistance by mediapersons to name the 'others,' Mr Dasgupta quipped, ''You know them. They are the political workers. We have said we don't agree with the method. With the developments in Nandigram our image has suffered.'' The CPI(M), the biggest partner in the Left Democratic Front government in the state, has come in for severe criticism from friends and foes for allegedly deploying its ''armed cadres'' while recaputuring the Nandigram area.

Earlier, the party workers had fled the area because of the ''seige'' of the strife-torn town by the Trinamool Congress supporters allegedly with the help of the Maoists.

Mr Dasgupta, however, asked the media not to take an ''unilateral'' view of the Nandigram developments, saying that after the government had made it clear that they were not acquiring the area for setting up a chemical hub, what was the justification of continuing the agitation in the name of land acquisition.

The CPI veteran alleged that the armed groups were roaming in the area freely and the government and the local bodies were not allowed to function.

''Even the local CPI MLA was beaten up by them.'' He did not agree with the suggestion that there was no basic difference between the Gujarat riots and the Nandigram tirade. ''How can you say so? In Nandigram, violence continued for eleven months even as the conflict got over. While in Gujarat, the case was just the opposite.'' On the rift among the Left partners -- the CPI, RSP and the Forward Bloc-- solely blaming the CPI(M) for the Nandigram situation, the CPI leader said this was wrong. ''There is a difference of opinion but not the Left divide as being projected in the media. That, too, we will sort out.'' The CPI leader, however, evaded a reply on the statement made by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that those who fought against the government's land acquisition move ''have been paid back in their own coin.'' He said they were discussing national politics at the press meet.

UNI