Problems with allies resolved: CPM

Maintaining that it has resolved differences with allies over Nandigram, the CPIM on Sunday said it is conducting an 8220;internal assessment8221; and a 8220;self-critical analysis8221; into the episode.

Maintaining that it has resolved differences with allies over Nandigram, the CPIM on Sunday said it is conducting an 8220;internal assessment8221; and a 8220;self-critical analysis8221; into the episode.

8220;There were problems and they were resolved in the March 17 meeting,8221; said CPIM Politburo member Brinda Karat, referring to a Left Front meeting held in Kolkata. The party had drawn flak from partners CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc for 8220;keeping them in the dark8221;. Her comments came as the party8217;s decision-making bodies such as the Politburo and Central Committee deliberated the possible fallout of the Nandigram violence and its impact on the CPIM8217;s image.

Karat admitted there would be 8220;ups and downs8221; in the relationship and underlined that the Left Front was 8220;mature enough8221; to weather the crisis.

Against the backdrop of attacks on Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, she sought to defend him, saying 8220;we don8217;t want to pinpoint things on this individual or that8230; The Chief Minister is the leader of a collective. We work in a collective and we have a collective responsibility,8221; she said.

Karat indirectly criticised CPI general secretary A B Bardhan for his scathing remarks against Bhattacharjee, saying, 8220;It was agreed that partners would not make public criticism.8221; Karat did not directly train her guns on anyone, but said, 8220;If people will think it will help them by making public statements they can do so.8221; She also parried questions on veteran CPIM leader Jyoti Basu8217;s comments against Bhattacharjee.

Karat said the police firing was 8220;unfortunate8221; and refrained from making any comments on who was responsible for the situation. 8220;There was an inquiry into the incident,8221; she said. She also declined to reply to a question on Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi8217;s comments on the police firing. 8220;A CBI and a CID inquiry are on. Let8217;s wait for its outcome and I am sure they will answer the governor8217;s questions,8221; she said.

Karat denied allegations that the Chief Minister ordered the police to go into Nandigram despite knowing they would face stiff resistance and the situation might go out of control.