Nandigram, Dec 26: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asked the Haldia District Administration to treat cadres of the Left party and Trinamool Congress volunteers on par, while giving relief packages to those who were affected in clashes over a proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nandigram.

"It is the administration and common people’s responsibility to re-establish faith among the villagers," Buddhadeb said.

He also announced a relief package to 10 million rupees for Nandigram.

The Chief Minister appealed to the Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) to dissolve differences, adding, ‘On March 14 police was sent to reconstruct those roads and bridges. I would have never sent police if I knew police would be needed to open fire to enter.’

Buddhadeb’s visit was boycotted by the BUPC, who opposed the land acquisition in Nandigram.

The Chief Minister, in his inter-action with the people and the CPM cadres, requested them not to provoke the people of the area.

He had also claimed that the violence in Nandigram that began with people's protests against the land acquisition for setting up a SEZ would not impede the process of industrialisation in the State, and it would not affect the confidence of investors.

The State Government had planned to set up a SEZ for chemical industries in Nandigram, but had to abort the project as villagers refused to give up their farmland for the project.

The row saw violent clashes between residents opposed to the project and the communist supporters as well as police. (ANI)