The Hindu : National : "State's image will not be hit"

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Tuesday, Nov 22, 2005

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National

"State's image will not be hit"

Special Correspondent

Buddhadeb says Congress protests will have no bearing

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Monday said the Congress demonstrations in protest against the arrest of the party MP, Adhir Chowdhury, would have no bearing on the State's image.

The police were capable of handling the situation, he said here to a question on the disturbances in some parts in the wake of Mr. Chowdhury's arrest on Saturday in connection with the murder of the owner of an eatery and his son at Berhampore on July 24.

The Congress has planned a Statewide campaign and a gherao at the Secretariat. It alleges that the arrest is a "conspiracy hatched by the ruling Left Front."

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is the Pradesh Congress Committee president, is expected to convene a meeting on November 27, a day before Mr. Chowdhury is produced in court. He has been remanded to judicial custody at Berhampore.

Eight Congress supporters were arrested outside the Secretariat, while trying to stage a demonstration, on the charge of violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. More than 100 cadres were arrested in other parts of the State for putting up roadblocks and squatting on rail track.

Fifty supporters of the student wing — Chhatra Parishad — were arrested for trying to impose a 12-hour bandh in South Dinajpur district. The bandh call evoked little response, according to the police.

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