Congress leader suggests ‘ceasefire with Maoists’, BJP alleges ‘vote bank’ politics

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of supporting Maoist insurgents for “vote bank politics.”

Published on: Jun 3, 2025, 19:54:52 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Congress of endorsing a call for a ceasefire with the banned CPI (Maoist) and said it has "exposed" the opposition party's “double standards” on the issue of taking on the Naxal menace.

Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, who said that he would bring an appeal to the peace talk committee for a ceasefire with the CPI (Maoists). (INCIndia-X)

The controversy erupted after a recent remark by Telangana Congress president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, who said that he would bring an appeal of a peace talk committee for a ceasefire with the CPI (Maoists) to the notice of chief minister A Revanth Reddy and also discuss the issue in the party's high-level committee.

Also Read | 'Thunder vs blunder': BJP's dig at Rahul Gandhi's 'surrender' remark on PM Modi

According to media reports, the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief, while addressing a conference organised by the peace talks committee in Hyderabad on Sunday, also accused the Centre of aiming to eliminate Maoists to hand over mineral wealth in Chhattisgarh and other states to corporates.

How did BJP react to Congress leader's comment?

The BJP seized on the statement, with national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accusing the Congress of supporting Maoist insurgents for “vote bank politics.”

Poonawalla also asked why the grand old party "always stands with enemies of India – from Naxals to Pakistan-based terrorists”.

Also Read | BJP on Congress leader's ‘Rahul Gandhi would’ve taken PoK back' remarks: ‘Hilarious’

“When the Congress was in power (at the Centre) it used to call Naxalism the biggest internal security threat and today it has become the biggest issue of human rights for the party," Poonawalla said.

"After Naxal commanders like Basavarju were killed, the Congress is now shedding tears. Telangana Congress president says there should be a ceasefire with the Naxalites,” he added.

Terming the reported remarks of Goud as “shameful”, another BJP national spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, asked in a post on X, “Why does Congress always stand with enemies of India – Naxals to Pak-based terrorists?”

Also Read | BJP hails Salman Khurshid's Article 370 remarks, asks ‘will Congress turn on him like Tharoor’

He said the number of Maoist-hit districts coming down to just 18 in early 2025 from 126 in 2014 is a testament to the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to make India “Naxal-free by 2026”.

"Instead of standing with India, he questions the government’s anti-Maoist operations and echoes the narrative of urban Naxals,” Bhandari alleged.

The Congress has yet to respond officially to the BJP’s charges.

(with PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.