Naxal attack on parivartan yatra: Cong demands President’s rule

Demonstrates before Rajbhavan & CM house, meets Guv

Calls Chhattisgarh bandh today

Rahul, Hairprasada reach Raipur to take stock of situation

Raipur, May 25, 2013

State Congress on Saturday blamed the government for naxal attack on its senior leaders during parivartan yatra in Bastar. Shocked over the incident, the party leaders led by AICC spokesperson and Chhattisgarh incharge Bhakt Charandas sloganeered and demonstrated before Rajbhavan on Saturday night. 

Later, they met Governor Shekhar Dutt and asked him to instantly impose President’s rule in state. They warned Governor that the Congress would aggressively agitate across the state if he would not send recommendation of President’s rule to Centre by Sunday (May 26) morning. 

In protest of naxal attack on parivartan yatra, the Congress has called Chhattisgarh bandh on Sunday. The Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Chhattisgarh Congress incharge BK Hariprasada too reached Raipur on Saturday night to take stock of the situation.

Anticipating Congress’ reaction, the government had already pressed adequate police personnel at Rajbhavan and CM house. 

The Ajit Jogi supporters led by Yogesh Tiwari also demonstrated and sloganeered at CM house for over 20 minutes. Later, about 10-12 activists gave court arrest.

Meanwhile, the YC and NSUI activists reached the petrol pump near police headquarters and vandalised property there. However, in a couple of minutes, about 70-80 police personnel reached the spot to control the situation.

The repercussions of Congress bandh call on Sunday was seen in advance on Saturday night at petrol pumps where the motorists thronged to get fuel. 

Earlier, the party leaders and workers in large number thronged Congress Bhawan as soon as they heard about naxal attack on their senior leaders.

While many broke out informing about the incident at Congress Bhawan, the PCC media department expressed its inability to comment on it except saying that the government did not provide security to its senior leaders in Bastar despite knowing that they were in sensitive area.

The party workers too flayed Raman Singh-government for ignoring security of the opposition leaders during parivartan yatra in Bastar. They said while the CM himself was taking out vikas yatra under heavy security, the Congress leaders were not provided the same when they entered naxal-infested region. 

The party workers said the government should have taken proactive measure and provided sufficient security to senior Congress leaders from beginning of parivartan yatra when once it failed to do so earlier in July 20, 2011 when Maoists attacked convoy of PCC president Nandkumar Patel and others near Devbhog.