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Congress responsible for spread of terrorism: Rajnath

Defends Chhattisgarh Government's peace campaign

Raipur: Alleging that the Congress was responsible for the spread of terrorism and naxalism in the country, BJP president Rajnath Singh on Tuesday defended the Chhattisgarh Government's peace campaign against the ultras.

``Terrorism and naxalism have increased under the Congress rule, and the party, that was responsible for the birth of naxalism, is supporting the current Government at the Centre,'' Mr. Singh told reporters here.

Strongly defending the decision of the BJP Government in the state to continue `Salwa Judum' or peace campaign against the naxalites, he said: ``Anyone opposing Salwa Judum are indirectly supporting the Maoists''.

After visiting Errabore relief camp with Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday morning, where on July 17 the naxalites had killed 31 villagers and injured 80, Mr. Singh said 17 per cent of the country's population was affected by the naxal menace.

Hence, the Centre should immediately call a meeting of the Chief Ministers of naxal-affected States and draft a joint action plan to combat the menace, he said.

Advocating for strong action against naxalites, he said the Centre was discriminating against BJP-ruled States as Chhattisgarh had sought 15 battalions of Central forces to combat the menace but was provided only five battalions.

He also asked, ``Why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not visit Errabore while they had visited Mumbai after the recent blasts?''

PTI

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Congress responsible for spread of terrorism: Rajnath

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