Patel startles by naxal attack on his convoy

Congress holds govt responsible for security lapse

Raipur, July 20, 2011

Startled by naxal attack on his convoy in Mainpur on Wednesday, the PCC president Nandkumar Patel said he had no words other than to thank god for saving lives of majority of the Congress leaders who were accompanying him. “Actually we were on naxal radar, but fortunately we escaped the attack. Unfortunately, some of our fellow partymen became victim of the naxal blasts followed by open firing,”

Lashing out at the state government for security lapse, he said the local administration was aware of his itinerary in advance, however, no security was provided to his convoy.

The former PCC president Dhanendra Sahu said the local administration did not provide them security even in naxal-hit area. “The incident occurred because we were moving without security. This resulted in killing of some of our party workers while many sustained severe injuries,” Sahu said.

Besides Patel and Sahu, the convoy was comprised of legislators Kuldeep Juneja and Amitesh Shukla along with Sanjay Pathak and Suresh Mishra.

Pathak informed that the vehicles carrying them and Patel had moved some 20-22 kilometers ahead of workers’ vehicles. “Suddenly, we heard about naxal attack on party workers’ vehicles,” he said.

The AICC treasurer Motilal Vora said the incident was shocking and apparent indicator that BJP government had completely failed in curbing naxalism.

Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi termed the naxal attack as cowardly act and said the incident exposed BJP government’s administrative failure. He said after series of naxal attacks in the recent past, the Chief Minister Raman Singh should tender resignation on moral grounds and recommend the Governor for President’s rule in the state.

Notably, the naxal attacked on Patel’s convoy while they had gone to attend organisation’s farmers’ symposium in Durgaguda (Mainpur).

Condemning the naxal attack, the Congress leaders held the state government responsible for it. The Congress is also planning to raise the issue through statewide agitation in next coming days.