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Buddhadeb’s statement on Nandigram stalled

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was prevented by noisy Opposition members shouting slogans, demanding his resignation, and waving black scarves at him, from reading out statements in the West Bengal Assembly here pertaining to the developments in Nandigram.

Just as Mr. Bhattacharjee got up from his seat to read out his statements in reply to calling attention motions on steps taken by the State Government for the rehabilitation of victims of the past violence in Nandigram and on the reported activities of the Central Reserve Police Force there, Trinamool Congress MLAs were on their feet and rushed towards the Speaker’s podium. They displayed posters and threw bits of paper into the air protesting against the State Government’s “role” in the Nandigram violence and demanding discussions on the recovery of a body from a grave in the Maheshpur area there on Wednesday. Mr. Bhattacharjee, who tried to make himself heard, finally resumed his seat as the din continued unabated. Later members of the Trinamool Congress, the Congress and the Socialist Unity Centre of India walked out of the House in protest against Speaker Halim disallowing discussions on adjournment motions on the recovery of the body.

Discussions on an adjournment motion brought about by a Congress MLA over the Speaker’s recent strictures on the movement of photographers and cameramen of the electronic media inside the Assembly premises were also not allowed by Mr. Halim.

Copies of the Chief Minister’s statement were distributed to members of the House and “taken as read.” In his statement on the activities of the CRPF in Nandigram that have come under criticism from several leaders of the CPI(M), Mr. Bhattacharjee said that there were a few complaints against the behaviour and functioning of some jawans of the force. These had been brought to the attention of the CRPF authorities.

The Chief Minister, however, added that the CRPF along with the State police were continuing patrolling the Nandigram area, carrying out a search for those responsible for the violence there and taking steps for the restoration of peace and normality in the area.

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