Under fire, Buddha’s govt decides to go slow for now

“We do not want any confrontation. We will wait for the situation to become normal. We will not make any haste,” said the Chief Minister, expressing his anguish over the deaths.

He also said the government might consider paying compensation if any innocent person has been killed. “Right now, the administration is making an assessment of the situation and trace the antecedents of all those who had died. If anybody died in cross-fire we will consider compensation,” Bhattacharjee said.

Narrrating the background of the police firing, the Chief Minister said the police had no other option.

“For over two months there was no rule of law in that area. The administration could not function. The DM called several meetings but the Opposition did not cooperate. All deaths are unfortunate. This should not have happened. The police did not go there for land acquisition. They had to fire under compelling circumstances.” He also said that 14 people had died and 71 people, including 40 policemen, had been injured. Twenty guns had also been seized.

The Chief Minister reiterated that if the people of Nandigram did not want the chemical hub, it will be shifted elsewhere. “There will be no land acquisition at Nandigram if the people do not want that. The Haldia Development Authority once served notices but I stopped it,” Bhatacharjee said.