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Basu's reply to Advani delayed

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu's second reply to Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's letter on the 'deteriorating' law and order situation in the state could not be sent through following the telecom strike.

A source in the Communist Party of India-Marxist's state unit told rediff.com that the letter was to be delivered via telegram on Tuesday. However, the virtual collapse in telecom services in the wake of a nation-wide strike by workers held up the octogenarian Marxist's letter. "The letter will now be sent on Wednesday and its text made available to media thereafter," the source said

Basu's reply was in response to Advani's hard-hitting letter to the Bengal government last week. Adavani had criticised Basu and his government for allegedly encouraging violence in strife-torn Midnapore, Birbhoom and Bankura districts.

Though Basu refused to divulge details of the letter, he made it clear that his intention was not to appease the central government. "I am least bothered if my reply fails to satisfy the Union government," he remarked at Writers' Building on Tuesday.

Advani and BJP president Bangaru Laxman are due to visit Bengal. While Laxman is arriving on September 23, Advani is expected on October 16.

Basu said that he had no problems on Laxman's visit. "India is a democratic nation and every individual, except foreigners, has a right to free movement anywhere in the country," Basu said.

However, Basu had something to cheer up when Trinamul Congress hinted at retreating from its demands of invoking Article 356 in the state.

Senior Trinamul leader Pankaj Banerjee said that his party was 'extremely satisfied' with the action taken up by the Centre. "It's heartening to note that not only did the Centre agree to send Union Defence Minister George Fernandes to assess the law and order situation in the state, but even Advani chose to write to our chief minister. We were happy to know that Advani severely reprimanded Basu. I guess such steps will prompt the Left Front government to restore normalcy," Banerjee added.

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