Central team to visit violence-hit districts in WB: Chidambaram

The Central team visiting West Bengal to assess the law and order situation will also visit a few districts which have witnessed clashes between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the ruling CPI(M).

"The chief secretary of West Bengal has indicated that they (Central team) can visit a few districts. They will draw up their plans accordingly," home minister P Chidambaram told reporters at a press conference here.

He reiterated that the visit of the Central team was "strictly in accordance with the Constitution" and the senior officials were in West Bengal only to help the state government maintain law and order and put an end to political clashes.

When pointed out that the visit of the Central team was criticised strongly in Parliament, Chidambaram shot back saying that members in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were satisfied by his reply.

"They have been told to hold discussions with the senior officers and chief secretary in Kolkata," he said.

Chidambaram had told Parliament yesterday that there was no need to view the Central team's visit through the "prism of Article 356" under which the President's Rule can be imposed in a state.

"The move to send the central team is entirely non-confrontational," he had said.