Spike in Naxal violence post demonetisation, claims Congress
Between 2016 and 2017, the figures in Chhattisgarh jumped from 105-106 deceased jawans to 130, says Singhvi
With Chhattisgarh polls less than a fortnight away, the Congress on Sunday sought to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Raman Singh on the rising graph of Naxal violence, which PM Modi had prophesied would ebb post demonetisation.
Quoting PM Modi's speech on December 31, 2016 that "demonetisation has effectively neutralised Naxalism and terrorism" and Raman Singh's assertion on November 19, 2016 that "demonetisation will finish off Naxal funds", Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, "Between 2016 and 2017, the figures in Chhattisgarh jumped from 105-106 deceased jawans to 130."
Elaborating further, Singhvi said, just Naxalism after demonetisation, in less than two years, resulted in 30 major Naxal attacks, resulting in the martyrdom of 120 security personnel and death of 150 civilians.
"In Jammu and Kashmir, over 70 incidents have taken place after demonetisation in which 120 security personnel were martyred and 64 civilians were killed. This dispensation, state and central, is playing cruel jokes on the public of India," he added.
Referring to successes achieved during the Congress regime, Singhvi said, "IAP or the 'Integrated Action Plan' was a focused targeted plan for 88 Naxal-affected districts. In 2013-14, Rs 13,000 crore was earmarked to use in these districts under the IAP. But the Modi government in its passion to erase anything that has a Congress-connection abolished this scheme."
In 2007, the Congress had created the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) for 250 districts, covering more than just Naxal districts, but that too has been abolished, he said.
Describing incidents of sniper fire in Jammu and Kashmir as a dangerous development, Singhvi sought an explanation from the government on the action it has taken to deal with rising graph of death of civilians, security personnel, cross border incidents and ceasefire violations. He advised the Army chief to act instead of making statements.
'BRGF SCRAPPED'
In 2007, the Congress had created the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) for 250 districts, covering more than just Naxal districts, but that too has been abolished, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said