Rahul Gandhi should thank PM for elimination of Maoists: Kiren Rijiju

A political storm has erupted over the issue of Maoism and Naxalism in the country following a statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. After Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reacted to the Prime Minister's remarks, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi. According to a report by Amar Ujala, Kiren Rijiju targeted Rahul Gandhi, stating that he should thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the elimination of armed Maoists.

The entire controversy began during the Diwali festival when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. There, he celebrated Diwali with the personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and addressed them. In this address, the Prime Minister claimed that armed Naxalites have been eliminated from the country. However, he warned that the threat has not been completely removed. PM Modi stated that while armed Naxalites have been finished in the forests, the dominance of 'intellectual Naxalites' has now increased in several institutions.

The Prime Minister further added that these 'intellectual Naxalites' are still working to incite people against the Constitution and democracy of the country. Expressing concern, he said that such people have infiltrated political parties and various organisations. The Prime Minister emphasised that it is extremely necessary to identify such people, defeat them, and ensure the security of the country.

Rahul Gandhi counter-attacked the Prime Minister's statement on November 9. Sharing photographs of CRPF personnel, Rahul Gandhi stated that looking at the faces of the jawans, it is clear that they do not find the Prime Minister's words and claims to be true. Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of calling them Naxalites. Along with this, Rahul Gandhi challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open discussion. He stated that he is ready to discuss this issue anytime and anywhere.

Following Rahul Gandhi's statement, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju took the lead. Rejecting Rahul Gandhi's claims, Rijiju said that the Prime Minister's role in the destruction of armed Maoists is commendable and Rahul Gandhi should be grateful for it. To strengthen his argument, Kiren Rijiju also mentioned an old statement by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Rijiju recalled that Dr. Manmohan Singh had also once described left-wing extremism and Naxalism as the biggest threat to the internal security of the country.

After Kiren Rijiju's response, the war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress over Maoist violence and 'intellectual Naxalites' has intensified. A new political battle has begun between the two parties on this issue, where on one side the government claims the end of armed Naxalism, while on the other side the opposition is questioning the veracity of these claims.

Kiren Rijiju is currently serving as the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs.