We're ready for CBI probe into Nandigram: CPM

Facing flak for the police firing on villagers in Nandigram, Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday said its government in West Bengal was 'absolutely open' for any transparent probe including by the CBI to bring out the 'truth'.

Senior party leader Brinda Karat said the West Bengal government was planning to order a judicial probe into the incident, but since the Calcutta High Court has directed a CBI investigation, 'we have no problem at all'.

"The facts should be brought out before the people. We are also interested in that. We are not afraid. Let the truth come out," Karat, a politburo member of the party, told reporters.

She, however, refused to say anything on Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi's statement that use of force could have been avoided.

"The Governor has a constitutional position. We will certainly not comment on his statement," she said.

Virtually defending the police action that resulted in the death of at least 14 villagers, she said no government could accept absence of rule of law in any part of a state.

"For two and a half months, the administration could not function at Nandigram and the government decided that this situation could not go on. When workers went there to repair bridges and culverts they were attacked," she added.

She sought to know why the villagers were protesting when Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee had categorically assured several times that land would not be acquired against the wishes of people.