Govt not to acquire land in Nandigram: Buddha

Visiting Nandigram for the first time since violence erupted here in January, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Wednesday voiced regret over the March 14 police firing and said his government would not forcibly acquire land in the region.

He announced a comprehensive package for economic development in the area and called for peace.

Bhattacharjee said his government had no idea that a situation would be created allegedly by the opposition which would lead to police firing.

"No government in a civilised country can send the police to kill the people," the chief minister told a public meeting in Nandigram where violence had broken out on the issue of acquisition of land for a proposed chemical hub.

Bhattcharjee, who began his address by saying, "I have come here to express my condolences for all those who have died irrespective of their party affiliations," maintained his government had wanted to develop Nandigram as a big industrial town like adjoining Haldia.

Observing that peace has returned to Nandigram, he said it was the responsibility of all to maintain calm. "Peace cannot be maintained only by deploying the police and CRPF. Those who support us and those who belonged to the opposition should not create any further trouble. The people here do not want disturbances," he said.

As part of the package, he said that better health and education facilities would be provided for the people by the government.