New Delhi: Accusing Chhattisgarh Chief
Minister Raman Singh of having "complicity" in the mob attack
on him in Dantewada, social activist Swami Agnivesh on Monday demanded a judicial probe into the incident and lodging of FIR
against then SSP SRP Kalluri who "hatched the conspiracy".
Addressing a press meet here, Agnivesh said an all-party
team of MPs and MLAs should be sent to the area where "torture
and mayhem" were inflicted on the people in several tribal
villages from March 11 to 14.
He appealed to the Naxalites in the state to stop their
violent activities for three months unless the government
insists on continuing the combing operations.
Agnivesh, who was attacked by a mob in Doranpal village
on March 26 when he was going to affected villages with relief
material, said he will go back to Raipur tomorrow to start a
non-violent movement to be joined by various social groups.
He presented before the media a youth who claimed he was
a journalism student who was detained and dubbed a Maoist
commander. Agnivesh said people held in the region on false
charges must be freed.
The attack on his convoy by Salwa Judum members who were
led by "non-tribal goons" was an attempt to prevent the truth
from coming out about atrocities on tribals there, he said.
Making a direct allegation against Kalluri, who has since
been transferred, Agnivesh alleged that he got the 2000-strong
mob assembled and "instigated" them.
"It was a part of a conspiracy to eliminate us. It is not
enough to transfer him. He should be suspended and an FIR
lodged against him," he said, adding that there should be a
probe by a retired Supreme Court judge into the incident.
Agnivesh, who met the Chief Minister yesterday, said
Singh should take moral responsibility for the attack on him
as well as the "torture" on tribals in villages there.
"It is a failure of the CM`s constitutional mandate. He
is yet to visit the affected villages. When I earlier asked
him about the alleged rape of tribal women and killing of
villagers, he said he had no knowledge of it," Agnivesh said.
He said the attack on him took place despite Singh
assuring security and asking him to go ahead with his trip.
Asked if he was suggesting that the Chief Minister
"knew what Kalluri intended to do", he said, "Exactly".
Accused Singh of "complicity and duplicity", he said,
"The CM is running with the hare and hunting with the hound."
Asked if he still is the Centre`s Naxal interlocutor,
Agnivesh replied in the affirmative. On whether he apprised
the government on the matter, he said his associate Himanshu
Kumar had called up Home Minister P Chidamabaram.
Kumar claimed that the Minister refused to talk to him
and instead directed him to officials who said it will be
looked into.
Agnivesh said he will meet President Pratibha Patil on
the issue of attacks on tribals. The policy of political
establishment is actually aiding Maoists and Salwa Judum has
become a "bhasmasur" (monster), he said.
PTI
