Jairam Ramesh alleges 'conspiracy' behind Bastar Maoist attack

Claiming a political conspiracy behind last month's deadly Maoist attack in Bastar, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said there are forces which don't want Congress to come back to power in Chhattisgarh.

He slammed the state's BJP government for its alleged non-existence in most parts in Bastar which Maoists have declared as their "liberated zone".

"It is not a simple attack. It is a political conspiracy. Congress led by Nand Kumar Patel was sure to win public mandate in the polls but some forces don't want Congress to come back to power," Ramesh told reporters at Congress Bhawan here.

"However, Congress will continue its parivartan yatra and win assembly elections. I have visited several Maoist-hit districts in the country. I found South Chhattisgarh's Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Bastar and Maharashtra's Gadhchiroli to be the districts most affected by Maoists," he said.

He alleged the government is totally missing in these zones and said only the Ramkrishna Mission works in some places. "I was perturbed to find two foreign agencies providing health facilities in critical areas like Bijapur in South Chhattisgarh, which is something the government should have been doing".

He said the Centre could only provide paramilitary forces and other help to the state government but the primary responsibility lies with the local police and the state government has to play the main role in wiping out the Maoist guerrillas.

Several contractors and politicians were linked to the Maoists in Bastar, he said.

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy, who was also present at the press conference, alleged the BJP government had always ignored the security of Congress leaders.

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