West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Tuesday said he shared Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's concern over the situation in Nandigram but his party Communist Party of India-Marxist -- attacked Dr Singh saying he should "behave like a prime minister."
Bhattacharjee said steps have already been taken for providing security and protecting people in Nandigram.
"I share his concern and the spirit of his statement. Steps have already been taken as he has spoken of and further measures are being taken," he said in response to Dr Singh's first substantial comments on Nandigram early on Tuesday asking the West Bengal government to ensure effective deployment of security forces and protection of people in the village.
Bhattacharjee said he had spoken to the prime minister many times earlier on Nandigram and also on Tuesday. "What the prime minister said is correct. The prime minister has given a very good statement."
The chief minister said he also had talks with Union home minister Shivraj Patil earlier.
But, Bhattacharjee's party CPI-M -- took a different line and in a counter offensive its state secretary Biman Bose told reporters at Budge Budge, "The prime minister should behave like a prime minister."
"The prime minister should not be worried about Nandigram," he said.