The ruling Left Front constituents and opposition parties in West Bengal on Tuesday hailed the Calcutta High Court order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the death of Rizwanur Rehman, who married the daughter of a Hindu industrialist.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the CPI(M), however, declined to comment on the order. Terming the HC order a slap on the face of the state government, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee demanded Bhattacharjee's resignation.

The TC chief, who had taken to the streets demanding a CBI inquiry into Rizwanur's death, said, "The chief minister did not take action for the last 24 days. Does he have any conscience? The high court verdict is a slap on his face and a no confidence on his government. He should resign."

Asked whether she considered the CBI probe would be impartial, Mamata said, "The CBI is now under the Prime Minister. I will request the UPA government and the prime minister to ensure that the CBI is not manipulated."

Senior Congress leader and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said, "The Rizwanur death case was grossly mishandled and there is apprehension of foul-play. That is why the state government should exhibit exemplary courage to hand over the investigation immediately to the CBI."

He said "the high court observation is a clear manifestation of how violating all norms of the criminal procedure code without registering the case, the West Bengal government handed over the investigations to the CID".