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Friday, May 11, 2007
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Preparations for all-party talks on Nandigram

Special Correspondent

Talks will first be held at the State level and later at the district level

Kolkata: A day after Ashok Ghosh, Secretary of the State Committee of the All India Forward Bloc, was given the go-ahead by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Chairman of the Left Front Committee Biman Bose to prepare the grounds for an all-party meeting for the restoration of normality in Nandigram, leaders of three Left parties — the AIFB, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Communist Party of India — met here on Thursday to discuss the modalities.

Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee had earlier suggested to Mr. Ghosh that the latter take the initiative for convening all-party talks in which her party is prepared to participate to facilitate the return of peace in the troubled areas of Nandigram. Her proposal had been welcomed by both Mr. Bhattacharjee and Mr. Bose.

The all-party talks will first be held at the State level to be followed by one at the district level, Mr. Ghosh said after the meeting.

This will be communicated to Ms. Banerjee who is now in Delhi. The State leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will also be informed accordingly, he said.

The Purbo Medinipur administration has also called for talks at the local level on Friday.

Cooperation sought

Mr. Ghosh contacted senior leaders of the Congress and sought their cooperation for the holding of talks.

Mr. Bose who is also Secretary of the State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said that all the parties concerned should come up with a proposal for peace at Nandigram. He reiterated the need for normality in the Nandigram area so that repairs could begin on roads dug up and bridges and culverts damaged during the four months of strife there.

Patrolling by the police has been intensified in some parts of the Nandigram area, a senior State official said.

Delegation

A delegation from the women's wing of the CPI (M) in the State, Paschim Banga Ganatantrik Samity, called on the Chief Minister and urged him to initiate steps to ensure the return to their homes of thousands of persons rendered homeless in the violence at Nandigram.

The homeless included a large number of women and children, a spokesperson of the Samity later said. Mr Bhattacharjee had also been requested to direct the administration to arrange for the construction of houses that had been destroyed in the strife.

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