Rahul Gandhi should make his stand clear on the issue of urban Naxals: Amit Shah

Addressing party workers in Raipur, BJP president Amit Shah said Rahul Gandhi is “day dreaming” about victories in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assembly elections.

Updated on: Sep 21, 2018, 23:45:58 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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BJP president Amit Shah on Friday asked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi if he or his party supported the “urban Naxals” who, he said, were “plotting to assassinate” prime minister Narendra Modi.

BJP president Amit Shah exhorted party workers in Chhattisgarh to ensure that the party wins more than 65 seats in the 90-member assembly and Congress is decimated. (PTI/File Photo)

The BJP chief was addressing a gathering of booth-level party workers in Raipur in preparations for the assembly polls due later this year. “The BJP government in Maharashtra had recently arrested urban Maoists. Then, questions were raised that why they were arrested as they have a right to speak. Shouldn’t those possessing mortar and plotting to assassinate the prime minister be arrested,” he said.

“The Congress president should make clear his party’s stand on the Maoist issue in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan,” he said.

Shah’s statements come days after the arrests of five activists in connection with violence in Bhima Koregaon during a Dalit gathering this January. The activists, who police say are linked to banned Maoist groups, have denied the charges levelled against them by the Maharashtra police and a case against the arrests is going on in apex court. He lauded chief minister Raman Singh’s government for its efforts in eliminating the menace of Naxalism from Chhattisgarh.

“ Amit Shah should check the records of the last four years and tell us how many infiltrators were thrown out by their government and then compare the records of Congress party, which is pioneer in checking infiltration. Secondly, Chhattisgarh Congress lost senior leaders while countering Maoism...,” said RP Singh, state Congress spokesperson.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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