Synopsis
The Karnataka BJP has raised concerns about the Congress government’s handling of Naxal surrenders, emphasizing the need for a serious approach to the issue and questioning the suddenness of the surrenders. They warned against politicizing the matter while the Congress defended their actions.Key Takeaways
- BJP criticizes Congress over Naxal surrenders.
- Concerns raised about the politicization of the issue.
- Questions regarding the sudden nature of Naxal surrenders.
- Historical context provided by BJP leaders regarding Naxal violence.
- Congress maintains that there is no support for Naxals.
Bengaluru, March 5 (NationPress) The BJP in Karnataka has taken aim at the Congress-led government in the Legislative Assembly regarding the rapid surrender of Naxals.
The BJP cautioned the administration not to underestimate the threat of Naxalism or to politicize this serious issue.
In defense, the Congress government asserted that there is no support for Naxals and questioned whether the BJP preferred persistent violence.
BJP MLA and General Secretary V. Sunil Kumar broached the subject while addressing the Governor’s speech during the joint assembly session. He stated, “I must address these ‘red rogues’ who threaten national security and democracy. Coming from a Naxal-impacted area, I have witnessed firsthand the repercussions of Naxal activities on the populace over the last two decades.”
“We have lost numerous party members, and many individuals have been displaced due to the violence and oppression caused by Naxals. The sudden facilitation of Naxal surrenders in Karnataka raises several concerns,” Sunil Kumar remarked.
However, he clarified that he was not against the surrender of Naxals but rather questioned the method. “How did this surrender come about? The Naxal issue, which has persisted for years, cannot be settled overnight. What triggered this sudden occurrence?” he inquired.
He further challenged, “Who is overseeing the administration? CM Siddaramaiah posts a tweet inviting Naxals to surrender and welcomes such an event. Just two days later, Naxals emerge from hiding to surrender. The same Naxals who evaded capture during Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) operations suddenly know about the tweet. Who is genuinely directing the administration and who is at the CM’s official residence, Krishna, in Bengaluru to inform them?”
“The Naxal ideology aims to seize power through violence. They believe in ruling through fear. Should we remain passive and not voice our concerns regarding this surrender process?” Sunil Kumar asked.
“In 2008, I recall with sorrow -- one day before the Assembly elections, Naxals shot two individuals at 5 p.m. I arrived by 5:30 p.m. The government should disclose who was responsible for their deaths for supporting us,” he stated.
He urged the government not to trivialize Naxalism or exploit the situation for political gain.
Sunil Kumar also recounted the heinous murder of BJP worker Sheshappa Gowda during the previous Congress administration. “Gowda was savagely killed by Naxals. They invaded his home at 9 p.m. while he was dining with his wife. Despite her pleas to let him finish his meal, they abducted him and executed him.”
“They tied him to a pole outside his house and hacked him to death. With such brutality witnessed in Karnataka, how can the government suddenly orchestrate the surrender of Naxals overnight?” Sunil Kumar questioned.
He further accused the administration of falsely asserting that Karnataka is a “Naxal-free state.”
Former Home Minister and BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra also weighed in on the matter, stating, “Sheshappa Gowda was a PLD Bank member nominated by the Congress party. Naxals tied him to a pole and murdered him in front of his wife. Can you envision such a scenario? And yet, this government facilitates their surrender.”
“During my tenure as Home Minister, we conducted extensive searches but failed to apprehend them. How is it that they suddenly surrendered just because of a tweet?” Jnanendra questioned.
Sunil Kumar further pressed the government, saying, “If we invite Naxals to surrender, why not extend the same invitation to terrorists via a tweet?”
In response to the BJP’s claims, Minister for Health Dinesh Gundu Rao replied, “I fail to grasp what the BJP leaders are implying. None of us support Naxals. The surrender process has occurred in other states and in Karnataka as well.”
“What exactly is your suspicion? Do you not desire their surrender? Would you prefer violence to persist? Or do you wish to see an end to Naxalism? There have been many instances where Naxals have surrendered and subsequently become public representatives,” Minister Rao articulated.
Sunil Kumar clarified that he was not against the surrenders but was questioning the method. “How can such a significant issue be resolved with just a tweet? You are comfortably settled in Bengaluru and lack an understanding of the severity of the Naxal situation. I have lived through it,” he declared.
Rao retorted, “What do you imply? Are you suggesting I am comfortable in Bengaluru? You also reside there comfortably. Shouldn’t we all live in Bengaluru? Should R. Ashoka, your leader, not live in Bengaluru?”
On January 8, when some Maoists surrendered, Siddaramaiah welcomed them back to the mainstream by presenting them with roses and copies of the Constitution in Bengaluru.
Previously, with six Maoists laying down their arms, the Congress-led government had declared Karnataka a Left Wing Extremism-free state.
Mundagaru Latha from Mundagaru in Sringeri; Vanajakshi from Balehole in Kalasa; Sundari from Kutluru near Mangaluru; Marappa Jayanna Aroli from Raichur; Vasantha T. aka Ramesh from Tamil Nadu, and N. Jeesha from Kerala surrendered in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Maoist Katehonda Ravi also surrendered to authorities in Karnataka later, on February 1.
Karnataka BJP President B. Y. Vijayendra labeled the surrender of Maoists before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a “sheer act of drama.”
