Bardhan admits, Nandigram has dented Left image

Patiala, Nov 24 (UNI) Communist Party of India (CPI) General secretary A B Bardhan today said the Nandigram issue had dented the image of the Left parties, including his own party.

''The issue has also affected the CPI image, even though we opposed the creation of an SEZ in that area of West Bengal'', Mr Bardhan said.

Addressing a media conference here, he pointed out that the West Bengal government had withdrawn the proposal of setting of SEZs in Nandigram after the entire Left had opposed it, as the land in that area was very fertile.

The CPI leader was here to inaugurate the conference of the All India State Bank of Patiala Employees' Federation.

Referring to Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee, he alleged that the TMC had raised the Nandigram issue in an irresponsible manner and had created terror in that area. Over 3,500 displaced families from Nandigram had been rehabilitated in relief camps by the West Bengal government, he added.

He said that the recent violence in Kolkata was the handiwork of fundamentalists and terrorists and government should take stern action against those responsible for the incidents. He said the CPI has already been opposing the violence in the country and the party has condemned the bomb blast in the three cities of UP.

Mr Bardhan said the recent violence in Kolkata and Nandigram issue would not affect the panchayat polls in West Bengal, scheduled in May next year.

He said the left parties will carry on opposing the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal. ''We shall oppose the deal at every stage, though we are always ready for any talks'', he added.

Referring to the financial policies of the UPA governmnet, he said that permitting foreign banks to take over the Indian private banks would prove disastrous. The social objectives sought to be achieved through the Indian banking system would remain unfulfilled, besides, economic sovereignty could be jeopardised, he added.

The CPI leader said the move to further open up the financial sector, including the pension sector, would lead to loot and plunder by the MNCs.

''I would like to remind the Prime Minister of his quoted statementf emphasising that economic reforms would be carried out with a human face. His latest assertions on economic reforms are in contrast to his earlier stand,'' Mr Bardhan said.

Pointing out that agriculture was in 'deep crisis', he said there was an immediate need to take steps and check the suicide by indebted farmers. He slammed Finance Minister P Chidambaram for ruling out the Left Front's suggestions, including taxing the rich, for resource mobilisation.

''We demanded a review of all exemptions given to the corporate sector'', he added.

UNI