New Delhi: BJP expressed concern over growing
Naxal violence and said it had become an election issue with
the Congress maintaining that the reason for the menace was
poverty and maladministration and not ideological factors.
Accusing the Congress of "diluting and merely debating the
issues" instead of addressing them on the ground, BJP
spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "Earlier when we talked
about terror they would talk about secularism. Now when we
raise the issue of Naxalism, Congress says it is due to
poverty and maladministration."
The country has seen a spurt in Naxal violence with the
latest incident being in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, where 17
policemen were killed.
However, the BJP MP denied that Naxalism had "hijacked"
other issues during the elections in Maharashtra, where
assembly polls were held today.
"It would be very difficult to say Naxalism has hijacked
the elections. But what they are doing is impacting the
elections," Rudy said.
He said Congress was speaking in different voices on the
issue and maintaining ideology was not the reason behind
Naxalism.
"There are contradictions within the Congress on the
issue," he said, adding, "they are not sincere in tackling
it".
Bureau Report
