Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress today expressed fear that the CPI(M) would resort to ruthless suppression of the people's mandate in Nandgram during the panchayat poll.

Alleging the marxist party had mobilised a red brigade to terrorise opposition supporters, TC chief Mamata Banerjee said, "CPI(M) will resort to ruthless suppression of the people s verdict in Nandigram."

Disputing West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, who has promised that the panchayat elections would be free and fair, Banerjee questioned how this could be possible when armed CPI(M) cadre were attacking people and the police were remaining inactive.

She claimed that after winning the election with brute force in Nandigram, the CPI(M) would set up the chemical hub there and claim that people are in its favour. Banerjee said she had informed Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil about the situation and urged them the state government should be told to adhere to raj dharma.

On the police stopping film director Aparna Sen and other artists and intellectuals in Howrah district from going to Nandigram, she said it was deplorable. "If armed cadre have free run in Nandigram, why should intellectuals be barred from going there?" the TC chief asked.
Source : PTI