By Manish Chand, IANS
On Board Air India One : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was monitoring the situation in West Bengal’s Nandigram that has witnessed a spate of killings and also spoke with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya even as the government Sunday said it was concerned about the role of Maoists in the conflict.
“Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is in touch with Union Home Minister (Shivraj Patil) on the situation in Nandigram, West Bengal. The central government will be sending Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) units to Nandigram,” said a statement by the prime minister’s media advisor Sanjaya Baru.
“The prime minister is monitoring the situation and has also spoken to Chief Minister of West Bengal,” it added.
National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan said: “It’s a tricky situation. Delhi is concerned. Kolkata is also deeply concerned.
“The idea is to ensure that no more lives are lost and those who have been driven out and blocked from returning to their homes can do so with minimum violence and casualties,” he told reporters aboard the prime minister’s special aircraft on way to Moscow.
Manmohan Singh later arrived in Moscow on a two-day visit for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nandigram, about 150 km from Kolkata, has been on the boil since January with clashes between ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters and local people over land acquisition for industry that has turned into a political turf battle. At least 34 people have died in the violence at Nandigram that the local authorities have said has turned into a “war zone”.
“But quite clearly, it is obvious that it is a matter that is causing a great deal of concern,” Narayanan said.
Responding to a question on the role of leftwing radicals in the violence, he said: “The Maoists said at their 9th Congress that wherever there is an opportunity, they will get in. This is one area that they have entered into. Some of the violence can be attributed to the Maoists. This is a matter of further concern for both the government of India and the government of West Bengal.”
Narayanan also said the prime minister was in touch with the home minister over the events in Nandigram and a senior official from New Delhi was sent to the region to report on the situation and recommend measures.
“One battalion of the CRPF is already there. It is a dicey situation, which, I hope, is being handled well,” said the national security adviser.
Asked about the CPI-M criticising West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi for his comments on the violence, Narayanan said: “The governor has spoken out, there have been responses from either side. The home minister has spoken to the chief minister on more than one occasion.”