• So you must have read about this new development: Bengal claims it is a conspiracy. They say it’s an Islamic-American alliance, or rather, a Jamiat-American alliance.

This is the thinking of the communists. This is so because they are realising that nothing is in their hands and they are feeling helpless. And this is not a Muslim issue in Nandigram, it’s a public issue. And the Bengal government has been defeated as it could not achieve what it wanted. And in future too it will be defeated if it does not change its attitude. If they change their attitude, we will be their best friends.

• But not many people know that Bardhanji participated in the demonstration which you staged against Bush’s visit to India.

It was covered by media. Everybody watched it. Last week, in an interview a journalist was mentioning that I have been friends with communists. And that, together with Bardhanji and other communists, I had staged a demonstration. I said we didn’t do a combined demonstration. He participated in it, and also addressed us.

• So for you it’s a tough choice. On the one hand you have America and on the other you have communists.

No, we don’t share any relation with America. And neither do we intend to keep one. We just stress on the fact that the public should not suffer.

• But it’s a big thing that Buddhabedji visited you, and he came because he is troubled by your party. But when he came to you, what did he say?

... contd.