West Bengal CM meets Home Minister

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) In the backdrop of their"letter war" over the political killings in West Bengal, ChiefMinister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today met Home Minister PChidambaram and discussed with him the prevailing situation inthe poll-bound state.

Bhattacharjee was invited by Chidambaram to visitDelhi nearly a month ago for discussion following repeateddemands of UPA ally Trinamool Congress that the Centre mustintervene to stop the violence in West Bengal.

During the 45-minute meeting, Bhattacharjee isunderstood to have explained the situation in violence-hitareas to the Home Minister and the steps being taken by thestate government, sources said.

"It was a good meeting," Bhattacharjee told reportersimmediately after coming out of the Home Ministry, but refusedto disclose further.The meeting took place following letters written byChidambaram to Bhattacharjee asking him to take immediateaction to stop the violence, saying it pointed to a "virtualcollapse" of law and order in West Bengal.

In the letter dated December 22, 2010, Chidambaramquestioned West Bengal government on its use of central forcesin the state, saying the killing of activists of politicalparties was going on unabated.

The Home Minister had also asked the state governmentto ensure that the armed cadres belonging to ''harmad vahini''(looters and pirates) are "immediately disarmed anddemobilised".

Chidambaram''s strong letter to Bhattacharjee cameafter TC chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedmisuse of central security forces in the state and offered toquit if her charge was proved wrong.

Bhattacharjee and CPI-M hit back at the Home Minister,accusing him of being "partisan" with a motive to "please"Trinamool Congress and serve its "political interests". Healso objected to Chidambaram''s use of the word ''harmad'' sayingit was a "nasty" word.

Later, in another letter Chidambaram invitedBhattacharjee to New Delhi for a frank discuss on this"extremely sensitive" issue and agree upon the way forward.PTIACB NES