BJP accuses Centre of failing to contain Maoists

AHMEDABAD - Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, has accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre of failing in their fight against the Maoists after showing initial resilience.

At a party meeting held here on Wednesday, Jaitley said the UPA Government has laid down their weapons against the ultras.

“Home Minister P Chidambaram had earlier shown great resilience in the fight against the Maoists. But soon the Congress got divided on the issue and started speaking in two voices. Now, Chidambaram is saying this is the issue to be tackled by states and Centre will help them,” said Jaitley.

“Around 200 districts are affected by the Maoist, and the Naxalites are collecting taxes in over 90 districts. State administrations have no role there,” Jaitley said.

Jaitley also criticized Congress President Sonia Gandhi remarks on the Maoists.

“At a time when Maoists are killing people and are aiming to overthrow the parliamentary system of the country, Sonia Gandhi has written in party’s magazine that this is a social issue,” said Jaitley.

“So revolting against the nation and blowing up land mines is just a social problem for them. It means Congress has surrendered its weapons,” he added

Meanwhile, addressing a rally Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress party is glorifying Sohrabuddin, an alleged criminal killed in an encounter five years ago.

“As soon as Congress will come to power (in Gujarat) their first and foremost step would be to build a huge statue of Sohrabuddin at Vadodara’s Raj Mahal road, and it would be decorated with garlands every day. They would say that this is done to motivate the new generation of Vadodara residents,” said Modi.

Modi also criticised alleged serving of beef to foreign athletes during the Commonwealth Games organised in Delhi quoting Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi back in July that beef would not be served during the Games.

“Gujarat government has been refraining from serving beef to those foreign guests who had been attending ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ summits being held in Ahmedabad since 2003 at an interval of two years and telling the guests that they would get the food which the people of Gujarat eat. The guests readily accepted it,” he added. (ANI)