Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 14, 2007
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/238893.html
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday endorsed the entry of CPI(M) cadres into Nandigram saying the opposition there had been "paid back in the same coin".
"CPI(M) cadres were legally and morally justified in entering Nandigram armed. For 11 months, members of the BUPC ruled Nandigram unopposed. They evicted our cadres and tortured them. The police could not enter either because I did not want a repeat of March 14. Our people retaliated in desperation. The opposition has been paid back in the same coin." he said.
"The forced entry of cadres in Nandigram's villages would not have happened if the CRPF arrived on time. We wrote to the Centre on October 27 requesting for additional forces. On November 5, the Centre wrote back saying it was unable to provide us the force. I spoke to Home Minister Shivraj Patil and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and asked again. On November 10, we were told they would arrive on November 12. If the Centre had taken prompt action, cadre activity in Nandigram could have been prevented," Bhattacharjee said.
Reacting to the CM's comments, Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy said: "Bhattacharjee is a fascist and a killer. He has no right to sit on the CM's chair, even for a minute. He should be behind bars."
Back from Russia, Prime Minister Manmhan Singh also called up Bhattacharjee on Tuesday to gauge the situation in Nandigram, CPI(M) sources said. Singh's call came when the CM was on his way to the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi.