Leader of Opposition, LK Advani, today compared the violence in West Bengals Nandigram area to the violence that was seen in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989, as the debate on Nandigram began in Lok Sabha.
New Delhi, Nov 21 : Leader of Opposition, LK Advani, today compared the violence in West Bengal's Nandigram area to the violence that was seen in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989, as the debate on Nandigram began in Lok Sabha.
Opening the debate on the Nandigram issue, Advani asked the Central Government to ensure that the order of the Calcutta High Court regarding rehabilitation and compensation of Nandigram victims is executed.
"The Governor (Gopal Krishna Gandhi) should be called to Delhi to explain the situation," he said, adding that it was the responsibility of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and the Governor to ensure peace in the region.
He even said that if required, Article 355 or Article 356, should be imposed in the State.
He informed the Lower House about his meeting with West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi during his Nandigram visit.
"Parliament, government, nation have the right to know what happened in Nandigram and why," he added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is currently attending the ASEAN Summit in Singapore, is expected to make his statement on Thursday morning.
Earlier today, the BJP raised objection to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's absence from Parliament during Question Hour.
Senior BJP leader V K Malhotra raised the issue when questions pertaining to ministries handled by the Prime Minister were being discussed.
"Parliament is in session for barely 14 days and the Prime Minister is away for seven days," Malhotra said in the Lok Sabha.
The Prime Minster is also scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala in Uganda.
The Nandigram issue is being discussed under Rule 193 that does not allow voting after discussion.
The Centre decided to discuss Nandigram in hope of ending the deadlock in Parliament.
The decision to discuss the issue came after a series of negotiations between the Left and the Opposition.
The BJP and the CPI (M) leaders confirmed that the agreed text of the motion would refer to the proposal to set up a Special Economic Zone in Nandigram and the "consequent violence" witnessed thereof.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Government today called out the Army in various parts of Kolkata after demonstrators protesting against violence in Nandigram and demanding the cancellation of visa of Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, clashed with police.
The State Government also deployed personnel of the elite Rapid Action Force (RAF) to quell the disturbance that has brought normal life in Kolkata to a standstill.
The Communist Government in West Bengal had planned to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for chemical industries in Nandigram, 150 km southwest of Kolkata, but had to abort the project after villagers refused to give up their lands.
Violent clashes between Communist supporters, police and locals opposed to the project have been taking place since January.
At least six villagers were killed and dozens injured in Nandigram last week in clashes between rival groups led by Communists and a frontal organisation backed by Trinamool Congress party.
ANI