The Maoist attack on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh which killed two of its senior members in the state has created a leadership void for the party. This is agreed by all partners. One wonders if the Maoists have shifted their focus to political leaders from the security forces. Killing appears to be preferred to abduction. The circumstances in which the attack was made held an element of surprise. The Maoists have however taken the responsibility and put forth the reasons for perpetrating the outrage. The reason apparently was to avenge the violence of the Salwa Judum and force the security forces to pull out of the region. The Union Home Ministry has put the blame on the state government for failing to deploy paramilitary troops in the area, though it had been tipped off. Chief Minister Ramana Singh has acknowledged that there were security lapses. Senior leaders were travelling together and so there should have been greater vigilance. A Chhattisgarh Congress leader and a union minister said that there was political conspiracy in it. It is only loose talk. A National Investigation Agency team is on the job. The BJP is demanding a Supreme Court- appointed Investigation Team to probe the incident. The Assembly election in Chhattisgarh is due in October. No party should be allowed to make political capital out of the occurrence.
There is no denying that the Maoist challenge demands joint action by the Centre and the state governments affected by it. The blame game only aggravates the crisis. The Maoists are against democracy and make no distinction between political parties in India. The short term objectives of contending political parties should not be allowed to undermine the offensive against the predators. Why did Union Home Minister S.K Shinde extend his stay in the US when the violence occurred? Here is a case where one can say, parties of the country, unite!
