CPI(M) criticises Mamata for walk-out

The CPI(M) today lashed out at Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for walking out of an all-party meeting called to restore peace in Nandigram, saying her decision was "highly condemnable."

Senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said the need of the hour was to restore peace in Nandigram and in West Bengal. "The fact that Mamata Banerjee walked out of the all party meeting was unfortunate and highly condemnable," he added.

He also criticised the Congress for entering into an alliance with the BJP and Trinamool Congress for civic polls in Panskura in the state. "The party's so-called secularism has become clear now," he said, adding "that is the politics in West Bengal."

The all-party meeting called by the state government to restore peace in Nandigram had to be adjourned abruptly after Banerjee walked out following differences with the CPI(M) over her insistence to term the March 14 police firing there as 'genocide'.

Reacting to the Trinamool supremo's walkout, Yechury's politburo colleague Biman Basu said no problem could be resolved because of "adamant attitudes".

He said the Opposition in West Bengal, especially Trinamool Congress, were "dishing out factually incorrect and misleading information" on the happenings in Singur and Nandigram "to hoodwink the people".

Basu accused them of "grossly distorting history" by comparing the Nandigram firing with Jallianwala Bagh and terming the March 14 incident as "genocide".

The ruling Left Front has never opposed any kind of inquiry into the incident, including by the CBI, he said.