The ruling Congress on Friday expressed “deep anguish and sorrow” over the tragic deaths in the train accident took place in West Bengal, whereas Opposition BJP found this an opportunity to browbeat the government by accusing it of failing to firmly deal with the “enormous challenge” of Naxalism. The Saffron party claimed that the accident was a result of Naxal attack.
Leading her party in expressing “deep anguish and sorrow”, Congress president Sonia Gandhi in a message said, “I offer my condolences to the bereaved families.”
AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the party aligns itself in sharing the sorrow of the bereaved families in the train accident.
“We have to ascertain the causes,” he said, adding that Naxalism was a big threat to the country and we should look beyond narrow differences and fight together.
Meanwhile, condemning the train attack as “dastardly”, the BJP asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to spell out government’s stand on the Naxal issue. The party asked government to speak in one voice on the issue.
The Bharatiya Janata Party suggested that all parties should be consulted on dealing with the challenge, which is assuming enormous proportions.
Accusing the government of “lacking will power” to fight Naxals in a firm manner, senior party leader and chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad criticised the attitude of “passing the buck” between the Centre and states on the Jhargram train attack case.