Centre condemns 'political warfare' over Sukma horror

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 26 (ANI): Amid the massive verbal volleying between political parties over the deadly Sukma attack in which 25 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists, Union Minister of State for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale has called on parties to show their unity now more than ever. "This is the time when the entire nation must stand together and so should all the political parties. This tragedy must be condemned and there should be no blame game whatsoever," the Union Minister told ANI. Athawale further asserted that being a veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh will make such wrong statement against Raman Singh because the latter is a very strong chief Minister, he has been ruling Chhattisgarh state since thirteen years. Digvijay blamed Modi government and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for the Sukma attack and also accused the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister of 'helping' Maoists. Meanwhile, slamming Digvijaya Singh for his remark, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dubbed the Congress leader as a sympathizer of the Naxal cause. BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said that Digvijaya has always been making statements and giving the Naxals a sort of moral cover for their dastardly acts of violence. The BJP leader further said that the Congress has never lost an opportunity to hurt the national sentiments, on issues concerning even security forces. "For a national party to not show even a modicum of respect for the martyred soldiers, and to make very cheap political statements at a time when the nation is mourning the martyrdom of 25 CRPF jawans, is beyond any words. Digvijaya Singh had been known to a sympathizer of the naxal cause. He has always been making statements and giving them a sort of moral cover for their dastardly acts of violence," Rao told ANI. Earlier on Monday, as many as 25 CRPF personnel were killed and six others injured in the encounter with the Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma. The attack took place on personnel of the CRPF's 74th Battalion as they were assisting the local population in road building activity in the district. The Centre has assured action against the perpetrators of the 'cold-blooded murder' in Sukma. (ANI)