Advani to visit spot, says problem CPM, not Buddha

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had to be repeatedly adjourned today as a determined Opposition cornered the Left parties over the killings. No business could be transacted in either House despite the fact that Finance Minister P Chidambaram was to reply in Lok Sabha to the discussion on the General Budget.

While asking for a parliamentary resolution condemning the police action in Nandigram and Central intervention to restore law and order in West Bengal, Advani drew a distinction between the Left and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee but blamed the state government for the violence and subsequent deaths.

“I am outraged by the developments in Nandigram and blame the government of the day headed by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and CPM cadres. The problem is the party and its mindset. Buddhadeb, despite his best intentions, cannot get out of it,” he said of the CM, generally believed to be the one Left leader with whom he shares a good equation.

According to Advani, the developments in Nandigram were reminiscent of “the terror unleashed on his own people by the CPM’s idol, Joseph Stalin.” He said Bhattacharjee was not his “blue-eyed boy” but whenever a Marxist leader had said the right thing, he was quick to acknowledge him.

In recalling such statements, Advani drew a dividing line between Bhattacharjee and other Left leaders saying the West Bengal CM was one to stand along with him —- when Advani was Home Minister in the NDA government —- on the question of infiltration from Bangladesh and the proliferation of madrasas in his state, which he said was not the case with Jyoti Basu.

The Opposition leader’s comments on Bhattacharjee came after he spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and said the Centre had to intervene. The PM apparently assured him that he would speak to Governor Gandhi on the issue.

Meanwhile, the NDA demanded that the government send an all-party delegation to Nandigram. The alliance believes there is already such a precedent and a similar team had been sent to Gujarat in the aftermath of the riots during the NDA regime. But the alliance will send a team, comprising leaders of its constituent parties, on Saturday if the government does not agree to send such an all-party delegation.

The demand for a resolution and invoking Article 355 for restoration of law and order, unlike the Congress that wants imposition of President’s rule in the state, was made along with the demand for sending Central paramilitary forces to Nandigram, compensation to those killed in the violence, security to Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and unrestricted access to the media to the affected areas. The BJP also wants a categorical assurance that the state government will withdraw its proposal for setting up an SEZ in Nandigram.