Buddhadeb lands in Nandigram

NEW DELHI: For the first time since the turmoil began, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee addressed a public meeting in Nandigram on Wednesday. The West Bengal chief minister said that the Left Front government will not forcibly acquire land in Nandigram for chemical hub. Bhattacharjee appealed to the opposition to form peace committee in Nandigram. He said that a special committee has been formed to prepare a comprehensive package for Nandigram's development.
He also urged CPM leaders not to "misbehave" with opposition activists but to be polite with them. Bhattacharjee said that he regrets March 14 police firing in Nandigram and said no government in a civilised country can send police to kill people. The visit is being viewed as a politically significant event with Bhattacharjee being at the centre of a controversy over the bloody recapture of Nandigram early last month by his party cadres and the turmoil in the area since January last over the state government's move to acquire land for a mega chemical hub project.
Bhattcharjee, who began his address by saying "I have come here to express my condolences for all those who have died irrespective of their party affiliations," maintained his government had wanted to develop Nandigram as a big industrial town like adjoining Haldia. Observing that peace has returned to Nandigram, he said it was the responsibility of all to maintain calm. "Peace cannot be maintained only by deploying the police and CRPF.
Those who support us and those who belonged to the opposition should not create any further trouble. The people here do not want disturbances," he said. As part of the package, he said that better health and education facilities would be provided for the people here by the government.