KOLKATA : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday wondered why the Opposition leaders were continuing their boycott of all-party meetings on Nandigram, and appealed to them to join the discussions to facilitate return of normality in the area.

"How long can the present situation at Nandigram persist? The administration is not able to function for the past four months; the local economy is in a shambles and people there are suffering with the area remaining inaccessible." He said that for the stalemate to end, there was a need for all-party meetings.

Addressing a rally in Nandigram area, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, turned down the Chief Minister's appeal. She said the question of attending an all-party meeting did not arise as the CPI (M) activists were continuing their atrocities against her party supporters in the area.

Mr. Bhattacharjee said: "I have again asked the administration to convene an all-party meeting soon, get in touch with all political parties and seek their participation.

"Meetings have been called since the March 14 incident, but I do not understand why the Opposition is not attending.

"Till the last minute I was given to understand that the Opposition parties would participate in the April 22 meeting and the agenda was agreed upon by the authorities and the Trinamool Congress. But they finally failed to turn up."

Mr Bhattacharjee said people were suffering and students were not able to attend schools and colleges. The dug up roads and broken culverts have not been repaired.

The panchayat was not functioning for the past four months and the panchayat and block offices remained closed. And, money could not be spent on development schemes.

Law and order

Referring to the law and order situation in Nandigram, the Chief Minister said there were reports of trouble almost daily. "Last night, people were attacked and their homes damaged. Since January, 2,500 workers of our party and their families have not been able to get back to their homes. They are people too and have a right to go back home. How long can this go on?"

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