Cong says 391 jawans killed in 1,086 Naxal attacks in 5 years
New Delhi: Condemning the Naxal attack in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, the Congress has attacked the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying that in the five-year tenure of PM Modi the incidents of Naxal attacks on security personnel have increased manifold.
According to Congress leader Pawan Khera, 1,086 Naxal attacks have taken place in the past 5 years in which 391 jawans have been killed and 582 civilians have lost their lives.
"The year 2016 witnessed maximum number of Naxal attacks as the year reported 262 attacks in which 60 soldiers were killed and 122 civilians lost their lives. In the year 2018, total of 217 incidents of Naxal attacks had taken place in the country in which 73 jawans and 108 civilians were killed," Khera said while addressing reporters at a Press conference.
In the year 2014, when Narendra Modi took the charge of Prime Minister of the country, the nation reported 185 Naxal attacks in which 97 jawans and 127 civilians were killed, while in the year 2015, 56 jawans and 89 civilians had lost their lives in the 170 Maoists attacks and in the year 2017, 76 soldiers and 109 civilians had lost their lives in 199 Naxal attacks. In 2019 (till date) 53 Naxal attacks have taken place in which 29 jawans and 27 civilians have been killed.
Attacking PM Modi for politicising the sacrifices of jawans, the Congress leaders said, "In the past 5 years, 'fake chest thumping', 'hyperbole, 'empty slogans' and 'acronym building' has characterised Modi govt's narrative towards our national and internal security. They have sought to deeply politicise the blood and sacrifice of our jawans, but have become mute when such cowardly attack takes place."
Attacking PM Modi for blaming Congress for Dantewada Maoist attack in April, the Congress leader said, "When a Naxal attack had taken place in Maoist hotbed, PM Modi desperately sought to pin the blame on the newly formed government of Chhattisgarh, but they never talk about the killing of
about 1,000 CRPF personnel in the last 10 years of BJP rule in the state."
Holding BJP responsible for the spread of Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh, the Congress leader asked as who is
responsible for the spread of Naxalism to three more districts under BJP's CM Raman Singh?
"After 2017 Sukma attack, Modi govt announced Rs 1, 000 crore package for security in Naxal affected areas. There has been hardly any implementation of that package. Will the Home Minister or PM Modi share the blame for it?" Khera alleged.
"The Congress-UPA had launched an Integrated Action Plan (IAP) in 88 Naxal affected districts. A total fund of Rs 13,000 crore was earmarked specifically for Maoist-hit districts in 2013-14, but the Modi government abolished this scheme," Khera said.
Accusing PM Modi of abolishing another key scheme specially meant for the development of backward districts deed, the Congress leader said, "In 2007, Congress government had created a special fund called 'Backward Region Grant Fund' (BRGF) for 250 backward districts of India, which was abolished by the Modi government."
