Digvijay meets Lakhma, Sahu

Party workers want him to put clear stance over Maoists

Raipur, June 05, 2013

AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh met Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma and party leader Motilal Sahu at Raipur on Wednesday. He has reportedly discussed over May 25-naxal attack on Congress leaders with Lakhma and Sahu as both were eyewitnesses of the incident.

Singh, who returned Raipur from late PCC president Nandkumar Patel’s village Nandeli after attending the latter’s post funeral rituals, first met Lakhma at his residence. According to information, though Singh was accompanied by acting PCC chief Charandas Mahant, party’s programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel and other workers at that time, he preferred to have one-to-one talk with the Konta legislator.

Later, he reached Motilal Sahu’s residence at Ashwini Nagar and heard his version of May 25 incident.

Notably, Singh reached Raipur on June 3, i.e. eight days after naxal attack on Congmen. While the partymen were trying to find out an appropriate reason of his delayed arrival, Singh further frustrated them by not condemning naxal attack and refraining to demand instant counter action against Maoists.

Since June 3, Singh has not only visited family members of deceased Congmen but also held talks with different party leaders, except Ajit Jogi whose reaction and statements post May 25 incident has given opportunity to ruling BJP and some of the fellow partymen to point finger of doubt towards him.

Now, when Singh has talked to Lakhma and Sahu regarding May 25 incident on Wednesday, the partymen hope that he would also meet Jogi and try to know his stance into the matter.

While a section of Congmen and media are already attempting to draw inference from Singh’s delayed arrival and prolonged stay in Chhattisgarh that he may play major role in upcoming assembly polls, there are party workers who feel that he is less likely to do so, for the high command having full faith on existing state Congress incharge BK Hariprasada who has toiled hard to consolidate the state unit ever since he got the job.

They also reason that when Singh failed to change Congress’ fate in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls last year and could not bring fortunes for the party in his own state Madhya Pradesh in past two polls then how come the high command would entrust him Chhattisgarh’s charge.

These workers rather want Singh to clarify his stance over naxals as they are fed up of giving explanations to public that their top leaders do not have soft corner towards Maoists. Singh is scheduled to talk to media persons after attending tribute programme of deceased Congmen on Thursday noon at 3 pm.