Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 14, 2007
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/238892.html
BJP leader LK Advani on Tuesday seconded Governor
Gopal Krishna Gandhi's harsh comments against the Left Front Government for
the violence unleashed by CPI(M) cadres in Nandigram.
Advani, who met the Governor as head of a
nine-member NDA delegation, said: "I cannot recall any Governor ever
having issued a statement in such clear terms. I told him that you have performed
your duty. Your comments are perfectly justified."
Advani, along with BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj,
Trinamool Congress' Mukul Roy and others, met the Governor in the evening
after a visit to Nandigram.
Advani said: "The situation in Nandigram
is really very bad. The behaviour of the authorities and establishment is
illegal, so the Centre should invoke Constitutional provisions under Article
355 or 356."
Before Advani, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
also called on the Governor and reportedly briefed him about the latest position
in Nandigram.
Earlier, Advani visited interior villages
in Nandigram. Getting off his car, because the road was too narrow and also
because he wanted to interact with the people, Advani walked 1.5 km into the
village. Strangely, none of the villagers came forward to speak to him or
meet him. Only one man in his 60s came up to him when he was summoned and
simply said: "We are fine."
Advani went to Nandigram hospital, where he
stayed for 15 minutes. He then left for the relief camp at Brajamohan Tiwari
School, where a group of women went up to him and said their homes had been
burnt and looted. They also complained that their husbands were missing for
the past seven days.
Addressing a gathering at the school ground,
using a makeshift podium and sound system, Advani said: "I will see to
it that justice is provided to the people of Nandigram. This issue will be
taken up in Parliament on November 16."
Sushma Swaraj, who was on her third visit
to Nandigram since January, said: "Although the people were upfront with
their troubles the last two times, this time they were strangely quiet. The
CPI(M) has terrorised the villagers and they refused to talk to us or in front
of the media."
