AICC attacks Left on Nandigram

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) The Congress and the Left were today set for a major confrontation on another front with the AICC strongly condemning the culture of violence and the cult of armed cadres which led to bloodshed in Nandigram, West Bengal.

The scathing attack came a day after the Left parties allowed the Congress-led ruling UPA coalition to approach the IAEA for Safeguards agreement to operationalise the Nuclear deal with the US, ending the three-month-long logjam on the issue.

In a resolution at the one-day session of the AICC here , the party said the writ of the West Bengal government appeared to have ceased to run in Nandigram.

Devoting one full paragraph of the resolution on Nandigram, the AICC did not hide its ire over the happenings in Nandigram where farmers were up in arms against acquisition of their land for setting up of an Special Economic Zone.

"All this is the natural outcome of a system where the interests of party cadres are placed above the interests of the people at large and the law and order machinery is not allowed to function professionally," the resolution moved at the day-long AICC session said .

Unveiling the party's agenda for coming to power on its own at the Centre, the resolution said the Congress had to adjust and adapt to a coalition at the Centre.

"But the AICC is very clear that such a coalition cannot be at the cost of revival of the Congress itself, particularly in the states where its base has been eroded." In this context, he said there was no alternative to a revived Congress coming to power on its own , in the long run.

The AICC said the Congress was the only political party that has a national vision and perspective while retaining sensitivity to regional and local sentiments.

While highlighting that the Congress had functioned as part of a coalition, it hoped that the same spirit of discipline was reciprocated by all its allies and partners.

"The essence of managing a coalition cohesively calls for give and take, compromise and consensus, which, once arrived at, has to be implemented.

Voicing concern at the continuing hold of naxalite violence in some states, the AICC called for well-coordinated approach involving both the Central and state governments.

Kick-starting its campaign against the ruling BJP in Gujarat where polls are scheduled next month, the AICC said the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi was under siege in his own state, and called upon the party workers to rescue the "Gujarat of Gandhi from the clutches of those who have been brought up in the ideological shadow of Nathuram Godse." It asked the Centre to revitalise all Gandhian institutions and make them vibrant institutions of social change once again.

UNI