NEW DELHI : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday asserted that the West Bengal Government was committed to protecting the interests of the peasantry, sharecroppers, agricultural workers and other sections of the rural poor while taking forward the process of industrialisation.

Referring to the controversy surrounding Nandigram, the party's central committee, in a statement, said no notice had been issued for land acquisition, and a spate of accusations had been made against the party and the Left Front Government; that it was "insensitive" to the people's concerns. Several well-meaning individuals had fallen prey to the misinformation campaign launched by vested interests and the opponents of the West Bengal Left Front and the CPI (M).

The party said that as far as land for industrialisation was concerned, the State Government and the Chief Minister repeatedly stated that it would have widespread consultations with the local communities and elected panchayat members and would not proceed with any acquisition without taking all sections into confidence.

Outrageous accusation

"Yet a deliberate campaign of misinformation is being run by Opposition parties. This includes the most outrageous accusation that the Communists plan to destroy masjids and mandirs in the area," the statement said.

It said that at least six party workers were killed and two of its offices burnt. In a planned drive, houses of CPI (M) workers were identified in areas where Opposition parties dominate and the families were driven out and their homes attacked.

This was not a spontaneous outburst but a planned political attack by the Trinamool Congress and ultra-Left elements committed to violence. "In spite of this huge provocation, the administration has displayed the utmost caution in not using police so as to enable a normalisation of the situation," the statement said.

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