Governor's statement was uncalled for: CPI-M

NEW DELHI: Stung by Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi's remark that Nandigram resembled a 'war zone', the CPI(M) on Saturday hit back accusing him of overstepping his role and saying that his statement was 'uncalled for'.

"The content of the statement makes it clear that this is not the role expected from the office of Governor under the Constitution," party Politburo said in a statement, disapproving of the Governor's action.

It came a day after Gandhi termed as 'unlawful and unacceptable' the recapture of villages in Nandigram describing the area as a 'war zone'. The Governor had also made it clear that 'no government or society could allow a war zone to exist without immediate and effective action'.

The CPI(M) said the Governor has been fully apprised of the reasons behind this 'abnormal situation'.

Though he was well within his Constitutional role to communicate his views to the state government and the Centre, the party, leading the Left Front Government, said 'however, he has chosen to once again to go public with a statement which is uncalled for.'

At the outset, the CPI(M) said the statement of the Governor was 'surprising' as it was 'well-known that from January 2007 there has been violence engineered in Nandigram and normal life disrupted.'

It also recalled that for the past eight months, thousands have been "driven out" of their homes and the state administration 'prevented from functioning' in the area.