One of the letters seized from alleged Naxals contained a contact number which allegedly belonged to Digvijaya Singh, police has confirmed.
As the Maharashtra police confirmed that the mobile phone number, mentioned as "our friend" in an communication between alleged Naxals, belonged to senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, the BJP asked if party president Rahul Gandhi would expel the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister or hail him as a revolutionary.
In its crackdown against alleged "urban Naxals" for their role in Bhima-Koregaon violence, the Pune Police had seized several letters from arrested accused. One of the letters contained a contact number which allegedly belonged to Singh, police has confirmed.
Suhas Bawache, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pune, confirmed to Zee News that it has verified that the number in the letter belongs to Digvijaya Singh. However, there is a lot which needs to investigated before reaching a conclusion. The Pune Police may also question the senior Congress leader in the matter.
Commenting on this, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra said while the police will probe Singh's role further the question should be asked to Mr Gandhi about what action he will take against him.
"Pune Police will further probe how Digvijaya Singh is liked to Naxals. This is a matter of national security. Will Rahul Gandhi expel Digvijaya Singh or will he hail him as a revolutionary?" he told reporters in Ujjain.
Defending his party colleague, former Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan said Digvijaya Singh's name is being dragged into Bhima-Koregaon in view of the Madhya Pradesh elections.
"The government is scared that is why Digvijaya Singh's name is being dragged into Bhima-Koregaon ahead of the elections in MP. All agencies are working on the government's directions. Under this government, whoever talks about Dalits is a Maoist and who talks about Muslims is a terrorist," Khan said.
Earlier in September, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had alleged the same.
"The alleged link of Congress leader is a matter of concern. He has made irresponsible statements regarding the matter in past as well. The Congress Party should conduct a probe into the matter and should sack him from the party," Chouhan had tweeted on September 3.
Digivijaya had denied the allegations. "I knew you will ask this question. I am prepared to answer. Everyone has my number and Bhima-Koregaon was not a Naxalite movement. Why don't you arrest me if I have links with Maoists?" he had challenged Chouhan.
According to the letter, which Zee News has accessed but not verified, a number has been mention along saying that "you can contact our friend if needed."
The letter dated September 25, 2017 was written by one comrade Prakash to comrade Surendra.
In June this year, the Pune Police had arrested Surendra Gadling along with Nagpur University's English department head Shoma Sen, Dalit activist Sudhir Dhawale, activist Mahesh Raut and Kerala native Rona Wilson. They had been booked for their alleged links with Maoists groups.
Earlier in August, the Pune police raided the houses of several persons, including human rights lawyer Sudha Bhardwaj. Left activists Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and poet Dr Varavara Rao were other who were arrested for their alleged role in organising the Elgaar Parishad in Pune on January 1.
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 "Sambit Patra poses question before Rahul Gandhi over Digvijaya Singh’s alleged Naxals link")
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