Congress MLAs Defend Maoists, Disrupt Assembly with Baseless Allegations; BJP Stands Firm on Anti-Naxal Operations
24 Jul 2024 18:16:53
The Chhattisgarh legislative assembly on Wednesday witnessed heated exchanges as Congress MLAs irresponsibly questioned a legitimate encounter in Bijapur district in May, baselessly claiming that the individuals killed were innocent villagers rather than Maoists.
In a robust defence, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma criticised the Congress for its apparent sympathy towards Maoists, urging them to cease their support for such elements.
During the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant requested statistics on Maoist-related incidents from December last year to June this year. Deputy CM Sharma, who oversees the home portfolio, presented clear data: 273 Maoist-related incidents occurred, including 92 encounters between security forces and Maoists.
Sharma reported that 19 security personnel were martyred and 88 were injured in these incidents, while 34 civilians fell victim to Maoist violence during this period. In response to these heinous acts, security forces successfully neutralised 137 Maoists and apprehended 171.
As of June 30, 790 Maoists were incarcerated, with 765 awaiting trial and 25 convicted, he added.
Despite the clear evidence, Congress MLAs like former minister Kawasi Lakhma and Vikram Mandavi questioned the authenticity of the Bijapur encounter, alleging that innocent villagers collecting tendu leaves were mistakenly killed by the police.
“Deputy CM Sharma firmly refuted these unfounded allegations, condemning the Congress for making such "unacceptable" statements and emphasising that their actions only embolden Maoist elements.”
The Congress members resorted to disruptive sloganeering, demanding that the state government stop targeting innocent tribals under the pretence of combating Maoists. This spectacle unfolded as Speaker Raman Singh efficiently moved forward with the day's legislative agenda.
The BJP stands resolute in its commitment to eradicating Maoist threats and ensuring the safety of all citizens, a stance that the Congress appears disturbingly out of touch with, as evidenced by their actions in the assembly.
Report by
Shomen Chandra
Sub Editor, The Narrative