BJP irked after Jairam sees RSS-Maoist nexus

Jairam Ramesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party has objected to Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh’s comment linking Maoist rebels with the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Mr. Ramesh said, speaking to journalists here, that the RSS and the Chhattisgarh administration had a “unwritten understanding” with the Maoists in southern areas of the State and such a nexus was strengthening the rebels. Mr. Ramesh alleged that even after putting “30-40,000” boots on the ground in southern areas, the government failed to control the Naxals. Reacting to the comment, BJP’s State in-charge J.P. Nadda said Mr. Ramesh had a “superficial understanding” of the problem.

‘Who is responsible?’

“I do not have proof… But I am sure that the RSS and Maoists are united [in Chhattisgarh]. The administration and the rebels also have some kind of an unwritten understanding,” Mr. Ramesh said. According to the Minister, this “nexus” is evident from government’s approach in dealing with the rebels. “In a 6,000-sq-km., area one can not raise the Indian flag and the government representatives can not enter Abujhmarh [in south Chhattisgarh], even after deploying huge forces… If the State government is not responsible, who is?” asked Mr. Ramesh.

Baseless theory: BJP

While Naxalism is not one of the main issues in the second phase of polling, the Union Minister’s comment, especially linking RSS to Naxals, severely irked the BJP. Mr. J.P. Nadda said the Congress was “desperate and frustrated” and thus concocting “baseless” conspiracy theories.

“Before the incident at Darbha Ghat, the Congress used to say Maoists are misguided youth… [After the incident,] they changed their position as they realised that the Naxals are worse than terrorists and [now, they have] started connecting [the rebels] with the RSS,” said Mr. Nadda.

The BJP is not filing a complaint with the Election Commission. However, a complaint was filed against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for labelling the BJP as a “party of thieves” in an election rally in Chhattisgarh, on Saturday.