JP Nadda Targets Congress Over Jhiram Ghati Naxal Attack In 2013, Says Party Insiders Were Involved – Delhi News Daily

Nadda said a decisive action was taken against Maoism under the double-engine government in the Centre and the state, under CM Sai. (PTI/File)

BJP president JP Nadda on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress alleging that some insiders in the party were involved in facilitating the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack, which led to the killing of state Congress leaders.

Addressing the ‘Janadesh Parab’ (people’s mandate festival) event marking two years of the Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government, Nadda said earlier Congress governments had allegedly colluded with Naxalites, while the “double-engine” government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a firm stand against Left-wing extremism.

The event was held at the Khokhra Police Ground in Janjgir-Champa district.

On May 25, 2013, Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders during the party’s ‘Parivartan Rally’ ahead of the Assembly elections in the Jhiram valley of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, killing 32 people, including then state Congress president Nand Kumar Patel, former Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma, and former Union minister Vidyacharan Shukla.

The BJP president further said he was in charge of the BJP for Chhattisgarh during the 2013 Jhiram Valley naxal attack and closely witnessed developments related to it.

“Today, I say this with great responsibility that no one else was providing information and inside details about the Jhiram Valley incident. People from within were involved in getting their own people killed, and they were in contact with Naxalites,” he alleged.

“When protectors turn predators, the common people suffer the most,” he added.

Nadda said decisive action against Maoism was carried out under the double-engine government at the Centre and in the state, led by Chief Minister Sai.

He claimed that Naxalism has now been confined to a limited number of villages and districts in the state.

“Nearly 2,500 Naxalites have surrendered in the last two years, 1,853 have been arrested, and top leaders such as Hidma and Basavaraju have been neutralised,” he said.

Nadda claimed that while Congress governments had fostered ties and understanding with Naxalites, the BJP government, led by PM Modi, took decisive action to eliminate the threat.

“Under Modi’s leadership, the double-engine government acted decisively, and under Sai’s leadership, it was firmly implemented on the ground. In the coming time, Naxalism will be uprooted and eliminated,” he said.

Attacking the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, he said, people still remember the corruption in administration, failure to deliver on its promises, and the appeasement policy.

The biggest problem was an understanding with Naxalism, the BJP leader said, adding that the public had uprooted such an ineffective and deceitful government in the 2023 assembly elections and voted the BJP to power.

(With inputs from agencies)