BJP accuses Congress of 'supporting Naxalites'; says conspiracy and Congress are synonyms

Varavara Rao Varavara Rao, one of the arrested activists, gestures as he is escorted by policemen in Hyderabad | AFP

Claiming that some of the Congress leaders are openly backing Naxalites, the BJP came down heavily on the grand old party saying the Congress is playing with national security for scoring a few political points.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "confusion, conspiracy and Congress are synonyms," according to media reports.

"By keeping facts in front of public, every time BJP has proved that the Congress party can go to any extent against the country for politics. The Congress party has had a two-faced character over Naxalism. Congress can go to any extent and play with national security for politics," he was quoted as saying.

He said the Congress leaders, who are supporting the Naxalites openly, will inevitably face trouble both in the elections as well as on social media forums. "The National Advisory Council (NAC) was ground for supporting Naxals. Sonia Gandhi was trying to fit-in Naxals in the Planning Commission and the NAC," he said.

Sambit Patra had earlier criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi saying he ended up protecting Naxalism and terrorism in his zeal to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Maharashtra Police arrested Telugu poet Varavara Rao, activists Vernon Gonzalves and Arun Farreira, trade union activist Sudha Bhardwaj and civil liberties activist Gautam Navalakha recently for their alleged Naxal links and in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence. The Supreme Court gave the activists a breather when it said they will be under house arrest.