Basu calls it barbarous

CALCUTTA, July 24: West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu today said the state government would lodge a strong protest with the Maharashtra Government and the Centre in view of the alleged eviction of Bengali-speaking Indian nationals by the Mumbai police recently.

In a statement issued here, Basu condemned the Maharashtra Government and the police for deporting Indians from that State, identifying them falsely as Bangladeshis. quot;This type of eviction is unjust and highly reprehensible,quot; Basu said, adding that they had information that 35 more people would be deported tomorrow. quot;We have instructed the administration to take appropriate measures in the Howrah area to prevent any unsavoury situation,quot; Basu informed.

quot;I call the BJP a barbarous and uncivilised party for this kind of activities,quot; the Chief Minister further said.