Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president, Jagat Prakash Nadda, has launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, making a sensational claim about the 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack. Nadda asserted that the deadly ambush, which wiped out the state's top Congress leadership, was not merely an act of Maoist violence but involved "insiders" from within the Congress party itself.
The Allegations and Political Firestorm
Addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir-Champa district, Nadda directly targeted the Congress over the decade-old tragedy. He stated that the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 32 people including senior Congress leaders like Mahendra Karma, Nand Kumar Patel, and V.C. Shukla, was executed with internal collusion. "The attack on Jhiram Ghati was carried out by Naxalites, but the planning was done by Congress insiders," Nadda alleged, without naming specific individuals.
This accusation reignites one of the most painful and politically charged episodes in Chhattisgarh's history. The attack occurred on May 25, 2013, in the dense forests of Jhiram Ghati in the Bastar region. A convoy of Congress leaders, returning from the party's 'Parivartan Yatra', was brutally ambushed by heavily armed Maoists. The massacre decimated the party's state leadership ahead of the assembly elections.
Context and Congress's Counter-Charge
Nadda's remarks come amidst a heated political climate in the state. He positioned the BJP as a party committed to development and national security, contrasting it with his allegations against Congress. His speech also touched upon the broader theme of the BJP-led central government's efforts against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
Historically, the Congress party has itself pointed fingers at the then BJP state government led by Raman Singh, alleging security lapses and intelligence failures that made the attack possible. The party has consistently demanded a more thorough investigation into the incident. Nadda's latest claim turns this narrative on its head, suggesting complicity from within the Congress ranks.
Implications and Ongoing Legacy
The Jhiram Ghati attack remains an open wound in Chhattisgarh's polity. Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other bodies have led to the arrest of numerous alleged Maoists over the years. However, the political blame game has never subsided. Nadda's direct allegation of internal conspiracy marks a significant escalation in rhetoric.
The BJP president's statement is likely to trigger a fierce backlash from the Congress and could dominate the political discourse in the state. It brings the tragic event back into the spotlight, raising questions about accountability and the quest for justice for the victims' families, even after more than a decade.
As of now, the Congress leadership has yet to issue an official response to Nadda's specific "insiders" claim. The allegation adds a new, explosive layer to the complex and sorrowful legacy of the Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack, ensuring it remains a potent political issue in Chhattisgarh.
