NDA, Left to discuss Nandigram in LS on Wednesday

The Lok Sabha will take up the Nandigram issue for discussion on Wednesday. This will bring the Parliament stalemate over the matter to an end and the government is hopeful that a resolution will be reached in the Rajya Sabha as well.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi thrashed out the issue in consultations with the Left and the National Democratic Alliance representatives after Speaker Somnath Chatterjee asked them to find a way out on the issue which has paralysed Parliament for the last two days.

The matter, with a Nandigram-specific text, will be taken up as a special discussion under Section 193 that does not involve voting.

While the BJP suggested that the discussion be on the situation arising out of deployment of Central forces in Nandigram, Left sources said the debate would be based on the proposal to set up an SEZ in the area and consequent large-scale

"The stalemate created over a discussion on Nandigram has been resolved nicely and with great harmony. The BJP is not moving an adjournment motion and there will be a short-duration discussion on the issue," said Dasmunsi.

Refusing to divulge the text of the discussion as it was the prerogative of the Speaker, Dasmunsi, however, confirmed it would be 'Nandigram-specific' and not an omnibus topic dealing with extremist violence in different states.