The Congress on Wednesday struck a different note from the government by claiming that the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh government has “botched-up” the anti-Naxal operation in the state, which left 19 tribals killed, including a minor.
However, when asked about home minister P. Chidambaram lauding CRPF for its 'transparent' and 'upfront' attitude over the issue and saying that those killed included Naxals, AICC general secretary incharge for the state B.K. Hariprasad said the minister was merely reading the report given to him
by the Chhatttisgarh government.
“Whatever our home minister is saying is according to the report given by the Chhattisgarh government.... I do not agree with the report given by the Chhattisgarh government,” Mr Hariprasad said in response to a volley of questions on an apparent disconnect between party’s position with that of Mr Chidambaram on the issue.
Taking a contradictory position on the state government’s iews, the Chhattisgarh PCC in its fact-finding report maintained that the encounter was a “completely fake”.
Mr Hariprasad said the preliminary report of the Congress fact-finding team held that several “innocent people and minors” were also killed. Nineteen people were killed in a fierce gunfight in the dense jungles of Dantewada on June 27-28 in a joint anti-Naxal operation.