Kolkata, Mar 15 (UNI) Regretting yesterday's loss of lives in Nandigram, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said he favoured a CBI inquiry into the police firing and asserted that the proposed chemical hub would not be set up in the area against the people's wishes.
'' We want CBI to go for an inquiry into the incident. Let it find out what happened there and why did the clash take place,'' he told the West Bengal Assembly while welcoming the Calcutta High Court order asking the Central rpt Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the firing.
Expressing grief at the death of the people, Mr Bhattacharjee in a statement said the incident was unwarranted and should not have happened.
He informed the House that so far 14 people had been killed and 71, including 42 policemen, were injured in yesterday's incident while police seized 20 fire arms from the area.
Mr Bhattacharjee, however, defended the police action saying the force, which had been ordered to enter Nandigram to reactivate the administration, was forced to open fire after tea gas shells and rubber bullets failed to quell the mob.
'' Police did not enter Nandigram to acquire land. They were sent to the area after two-and-a-half months to keep active the administration. I told in the past that the chemical hub will be set up elsewhere, and not in Nandigram if the local people do not want.
The Government will not issue any notice for land acquisition,'' he reiterated.
The Chief Minister, however, made the statement in the absence of the opposition as the members of Trinamool Congress, Congress and SUCI walked out of the House as soon as he rose.
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'' We want CBI to go for an inquiry into the incident. Let it find out what happened there and why did the clash take place,'' he told the West Bengal Assembly while welcoming the Calcutta High Court order asking the Central rpt Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the firing.
Expressing grief at the death of the people, Mr Bhattacharjee in a statement said the incident was unwarranted and should not have happened.
He informed the House that so far 14 people had been killed and 71, including 42 policemen, were injured in yesterday's incident while police seized 20 fire arms from the area.
Mr Bhattacharjee, however, defended the police action saying the force, which had been ordered to enter Nandigram to reactivate the administration, was forced to open fire after tea gas shells and rubber bullets failed to quell the mob.
'' Police did not enter Nandigram to acquire land. They were sent to the area after two-and-a-half months to keep active the administration. I told in the past that the chemical hub will be set up elsewhere, and not in Nandigram if the local people do not want.
The Government will not issue any notice for land acquisition,'' he reiterated.
The Chief Minister, however, made the statement in the absence of the opposition as the members of Trinamool Congress, Congress and SUCI walked out of the House as soon as he rose.
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