New Delhi: The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram came under attack in both houses of Parliament from a united Opposition and even from some members of the ruling alliance on the Dantewada tragedy in which Maoists ambushed and killed 76 security personnel on April 6.
As Parliament's Budget session resumed on Thursday after a month-long break, the Opposition cornered the Government on the Maoist menace accusing it of being soft on the rebels. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led the charge in both the Houses of Parliament. In the Lok Sabha BJP MP Yashwant Singh claimed that the Government had compromised with the Maoists in Andhra Pradesh for political gains which led to strong protest from the treasury benches.
"UPA 1 sent out a message that it was ready to compromise with terrorists. They reached a compromise with Maoists in Andhra to achieve political gains," said Sinha after which Speaker Meira Kumar reprimanded him asking him to desist for making allegations that he could not substantiate.
Trying to take advantage of some Congress leaders and alliance partners targeting Chidambaram's anti-Maoist strategy, Sinha also alleged that UPA was divided and lacking the will to fight the rebels. Sinha claimed that while his party had come out in support of Chidambaram, some leaders in the Congress were challenging his policies to tackle the Maoists.
"We stood up with Home Minister, with the Government in the fight against Naxalism. Is Congress with the Government, is the UPA with the Government? In an article by a Congress General Secretary in a newspaper, he has challenged his (Chidambaram's) policy on the Maoist menace. The supreme question is when we need to stand together, the ruling coalition stands severely divided," said Sinha.
He also blamed the Government for the Dantewada massacre.
"I believe it (anti-Maoist operation) was started without proper preparation. The state governments were not involved. Actual operations need to be planned by police officers on the ground. Had the chief minister been involved, the Dantewada incident would not have happened," he added.
He also targeted Chidambaram for his statement that the "buck stop with him".
"If the buck stops, it stops with this Parliament. There must be a very clear message that we are united. But before that the Government should get everyone on board. Make the details of Green Hunt (the anti-Maoist operation) clear," he said.
In the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Arun Jaitley appealed to the Government to eliminate the Maoists and also came down heavily of those supporting the rebels.
"Maoism is not a poverty elimination scheme but a democracy elimination scheme. People who rationalise the approach of Maoists are half Maoists," said Jaitley.
Jaitley also criticised the Government for speaking in different voices on the Maoist issue and backed Chidambaram.
"A ministerial colleague from West Bengal says there is not even a single Maoist in West Bengal. You don't see a single Maoist. I hereby defy the collective responsibility part in the statement," he said.
"The nation, Opposition and Home Minister wants to fight the Maoists but we have completely contradictory views coming from the Government and the party. Generals don't walk out of the battle," said Jaitley referring to Chidambaram's offer to resign after the Dantewada massacre. "Home Minister has been ghearoed (surrounded) by his own party."
"The incident at Dantewada is a culmination of a process. We all condemn what happened in Dantewada. There was a monumental lapse by security forces. This is a battle that we cannot afford to lose," he said.
"Chidambaram became the victim of his own idiom. What we don’t need is a divided Government. BJP showed statesmanship while senior leaders of Congress party wrote signed articles. You also need a strong Government and party in carrying out the operations. Otherwise you will lose the battle even before it has started. For long term solution you need development in those areas. Home ministers don't behave like injured. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the Government to fight Maoists," he said.
"In first five years of UPA Government, Maoists have gained strength. This is a political movement lead by ideological individuals. Some of the arms are coming from across the border but bulk of the arms are snatched from security forces," added Jaitley.
However, responding to Jaitley's charges Chidambaram insaid in the Rajya Sabha that the CRPF team was trained to fight the Maoists and added that it the state governments have the primary responsibility to tackle the rebels.
"Preliminary enquiries have revealed that the deaths were caused largely due to bullet injuries, crude bombs and grenades. We have instituted an enquiry into this grave incident. Retired IPS officer EN Rammohan has been appointed as a one-man enquiry. He has been requested to submit his reports in two weeks. I would submit it to the house. We should await the reports of the committee before reaching any final conclusion," said the Home Minister.
He also said that the aim of the Maoists was to overthrow the democratically elected government by the use of force.
"Anti-Naxal operations are being conducted in accordance with the policy deliberated and agreed upon in several meetings with chief ministers of the affected states. Central paramilitary forces have been provided to the affected states including Chhattisgarh. To help the state government carry out counter insurgency operations, regain control over the areas dominated by the Naxalites, restore civil administration and restart developmental works. The state governments, therefore, have the primary responsibility. The Central Government stands ready and willing to assist the state governments and co-ordinate in the state operations," he said.
He also said the country must have a strong heart, head and staying power in the battle against the Maoists.
"To counter the menace of Naxalism we need a strong head, a stronger heart and enormous staying power. I believe the Government has all three qualities. Even as we mourn the loss of lives, I appeal to this House and through this House to the people of India that we should remain calm, hold our nerve and stay in the course that we have carefully chosen since October 2009," he added.
Even the some Congress leaders and allies have raised questions against the Home Minister's anti-Naxal policy. First it was Congress general Secretary Digvijay Singh's outburst against Chidambaram. Then Mani Shankar Aiyer came out in support of the Congress General Secretary and now senior congress leader Keshav Rao has said that talks were the only way forward in tackling the Maoist problem.
Even Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has been alleging that Operation Green Hunt has been helping the CPI-M in West Bengal.
"Chidambaram should withdraw operations against the Maoists immediately. It is the CPM cadres who are benefiting from such operations. Operation in West Bengal is helping only the CPM cadres to gain inroads into those areas," said Mamata.
As the treasury benches and the Opposition shouted each other down, both houses had to be adjourned repeatedly.
As BJP and Congress MPs tried to shout each other down over Dantewada carnage, Speaker Meira Kumar was forced to adjourn the Lok Sabha for a half hour at 1230 hrs IST.
The House reassembled at 1300 hrs IST but the unrest continued and she adjourned the house again till 1400 hrs IST.
Comments
0 comment