A controversial posting on Facebook by the BJP’s minority cell member Dr Saleem Raj, a sexologist, demanding arrest of former chief minister Ajit Jogi and Congress legislator Kawasi Lakhma to “unearth” the political conspiracy behind the killing of several senior Congress leaders in the Naxal attack at Jiram Ghati in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district on May 25, has triggered a political storm in political circles in the state.
Severely condemning the “irresponsible” remarks on the social networking site by the BJP leader, the Opposition Congress demanded strong action against him for trying to tarnish the public image of senior leaders of the party by making false allegations against them.
“The remarks made on the two Congress leaders made by Dr Raj in his Facebook account are highly objectionable and irresponsible. We want a public apology from him as well as from the BJP for making such mischievous comments on a sensitive issue like Darbha massacre,” Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ravindra Choubey said here on Saturday.
“The BJP is trying to divert attention from the failure of its government in the state to give security to the Congress convoy that led to the tragedy by resorting to such mischief,” Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Shivnarayan Sharma, who was in the ill-fated convoy, said in a statement here.
Dr Raj, considered the BJP’s Muslim face in Chhattisgarh, posted his comment in Hindi that Mr Jogi and Mr Lakhma should be arrested to bring to light the mastermind in the Maoist massacre at Jiram Ghati.
Two photographs of Mr Jogi and Mr Lakhma have also been posted below his comment.
Seventy-five Facebook browsers liked the comment, while the posting attracted three comments.
One comment ridiculed him for the remark and suggested to him to approach the police with proof rather than indulging in such publicity-seeking gimmicks.