KOLKATA: Semantics has played spoilsport in carrying forward a political initiative for the restoration of peace in the troubled Nandigram area of West Bengal's Purbo Medinipur district.

Deaths a stumbling block

The differences between the Left parties and the Trinamool Congress-led Opposition over the description of the 14 deaths there on March 14 has emerged as the principal stumbling block to the progress of the talks. The debate is whether or not the deaths can be described as "mass killings," as is being insisted upon by both the Trinamool Congress and the Congress. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) does not subscribe to this view.

Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu wondered how the usage could be applied to the events at Nandigram.

"What mass killings," he asked on Friday, adding that "eight people were killed in police firing, and the rest in clashes among themselves." Though the deaths were most unfortunate, the demand that they be described as "mass killings" was "unnecessary."

But Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee is adamant. She has refused to take part in the talks unless the deaths are described as "mass killings." It was in the absence of such an acknowledgement that she walked out of the first round of talks on May 24.

Basu's views

"The stalemate cannot continue," Mr. Basu said, appealing to Ms. Banerjee to resolve the Nandigram impasse through talks.

"About 2,500 of our people are outside the region [unable to return to their homes], and many of theirs are too. There is a need to create a situation where they can all return," he reiterated on the eve of yet another meeting among the Left Front leaders to find ways to push through the peace initiative.

The question is how to accommodate Ms. Banerjee's demand in the agenda for the next round of all-party discussions.

Senior leader of the All-India Forward Bloc Ashok Ghosh, who has been entrusted the job of arranging the talks by the Left Front, admitted that his first attempt was a somewhat rushed one "without the proper homework."

He hopes it would not be so the next rime around.

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