Kolkata, Nov 13: Leader of the Opposition L K Advani today described the Nandigram incident as ''shocking beyond words.'' The leader arrived here this morning at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport from New Delhi, along with an eight-member delegation, and would proceed to Nandigram later in the day.

Elaborating the reason for his visit, Mr Advani told mediapersons that he was here to assess ''whether the situation at Nandigram was really as grim and heart-rending as the press had reported it to be during the past few days.'' The delegation, which was joined by Trinamool MP Mukul Roy, would visit the Tamluk Hospital as well as the refugee camp.

Besides Mr Advani, the delegation comprised Ms Sushma Swaraj (BJP), Mr S S Ahluwalia (BJP), Mr Anant Geepe (Shiv Sena), Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal (Akali Dal), Mr Sarat Yadav (Janata Dal United), Mr B K Tripathi (Biju Janata Dal) and Mr Chandan Mitra (Independent).

Mr Advani said, ''While the CPM is itself obsessed with international issues, including the Nuclear Deal, the nation is extremely concerned about how the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee-led CPM government in West Bengal has nuked the farmers of Nandigram.'' He said the Opposition would raise the Nandigram issue in the winter session of Parliament since it was no less important than the Nuclear Deal issue.

''We will also report the plight of the farmers after our visit to Nandigram,'' he added. The Opposition leader flayed the Congress, saying that no minister from the Centre had bothered to visit Nandigram to enquire about the situation.

He also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for not visiting Nandigram to see the real situation himself.

The delegation would meet West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi after returning from Nandigram in the evening.

To a question, Mr Advani replied that he might also meet Trinamool supremo Mamata Bannerjee if she was in the city.


UNI