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Basu hails move to deploy CRPF

Special Correspondent

We want peace in the area: Basu
“All matters should be discussed within the Left Front”

KOLKATA: Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu said here on Thursday that the State Government’s decision to seek deployment of Central forces in the troubled Nandigram area of West Bengal’s Purbo Medinipur district will help in facilitating the restoration of normality there.

“We are wanting peace in the area but this is not what they [the Opposition] seem to want,” Mr. Basu added.

Violence continued to rage in the area and one person, stated to be a supporter of the Communist Party of India [Marxist], was killed when activists of the Trinamool Congress-backed Bhumi Ucched Pratirdoh [Resistance against Land Eviction] Committee [BUPC] allegedly attacked supporters of the CPI(M) in the Nandigram area on Wednesday night.

“I believe that it will be good if Central forces are deployed there,” the former Chief Minister said.

“The Opposition too have been demanding Central intervention,” he pointed out.

When asked about some reservations of certain partners of the CPI(M) within the Left Front against the deployment, Mr. Basu said that “all matters should be discussed within the Left Front.”

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had contacted Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and sought the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force in the wake of the fresh spurt of violence.

He, however, was not considering seeking Army deployment and reiterated the need for a “political solution to a political problem”.

Leader of the Congress Legislative Party Manas Bhunia has demanded the deployment of the Army.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has sought Central intervention and demanded that the border between Nandigram and Khejuri be sealed to ensure the restoration of peace in the region.

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