Kolkata: The ruling Left Front today could not decide on deployment of CRPF at Nandigram, with CPI(M) patriarch Jyoti Basu saying he was ready to hold talks with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for restoration of peace at the troubled area in East Midnapore district.

Briefing reporters after the Left Front meeting, its chairman Biman Bose said, "Jyoti Basu urged for postponement of the decision to deploy CRPF at Nandigram. Other Front leaders also expressed their views. But no decision was taken. The Front cannot take such a decision. It can only be taken by the government."

Junior Front partners RSP, CPI and Forward Bloc have been critical of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's move to seek one battalion of CRPF from the Centre, keeping them in the dark.

Earlier, Basu said, "The chief minister has been told by Front partners to postpone its decision to deploy CRPF in Nandigram and urged to convene all-party meetings to restore peace at Nandigram."

Front constituents also urged the chief minister to make a fresh attempt to hold all-party meetings to restore peace at the trouble-torn area.

The CPI-M patriarch in reply to a question said he had no problem in talking to Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee for restoring peace at Nandigram.

"If needed, I have no problem in talking to her. I have no animosity with her. I can talk to her a hundred times," Basu said when asked whether he would take the initiative and invite the TC chief for talks.

Source : PTI