New Delhi, Nov 13 : Activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) New Democracy (CPI (ML) ND) held a protest demonstration here today against the West Bengal government for alleged aggression on villagers, who are opposed to the acquisition of land for setting up economic zones in the state.

Protestors demanded that the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led State government should resign.

Aparna, Secretary of the Delhi committee of the (CPI (ML) ND), said: “Our main demand is that the West Bengal government under the CPI-M should resign and the police and the CPI-M hoodlums should be removed from Nandigram.”

They also demanded reinstatement of burnt houses, and those who were driven off their land.

Protestors held placards that read "Arrest Butchers of Nandigram” and "Scrap Sez Act 2005", and shouted slogans demanding the arrest of those responsible for perpetrating violence in Nandigram.
 
In the last one week, at least six people have been killed in Nandigram, as the Bhummi Ucched Pratirodhi Committee (BUPC) activists and CPI-M cadres fought pitched battles. Dozens of villagers were injured in the clashes.

The protest by ultras came a day after the CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat blamed the Maoists for violence in Nandigram.

National Security Advisor M K Narayanan has also held Maoists responsible for violence and said that the Maoists have intruded in Nandigram and neighbouring areas in West Bengal, and this is creating a problem.

But the CPI-M allies have criticised the government, and some ministers in the State’s Left Front alliance have threatened to resign over the Nandigram issue.

The Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI), on Sunday, squarely blamed the CPI-M for the continuing violence and killings in Nandigram.

The West Bengal Government had planned to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for chemical industries in Nandigram but had to abort the project as villagers refused to give their farmland for the project. (ANI)