Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda has triggered a major political controversy by alleging that people from within the Congress party were involved in the deadly 2013 Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. The Congress has reacted sharply, demanding that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) question the BJP chief over what it calls baseless and objectionable allegations.
Nadda's Explosive Allegation at Janjgir-Champa Rally
Addressing a 'Janadesh Parab' rally in Janjgir-Champa district to mark two years of the Vishnu Deo Sai-led BJP government in the state, Nadda made a serious charge. "Let me say this with full responsibility: no one else was giving information and inside details about the Jhiram Valley incident. People from within were involved in getting their own people killed and were in contact with the Naxalites," Nadda stated. He claimed that Congress leaders had historically maintained a "friendship and understanding" with Maoists.
Nadda reminded the audience that he was in charge of the BJP's Chhattisgarh unit at the time of the ambush and had closely followed the case. "When protectors turn predators, the common people suffer the most," he added, indirectly targeting the then Congress government.
The 2013 Jhiram Ghati Ambush: A Tragic Chapter
The incident referenced by Nadda remains one of the deadliest political attacks in recent Indian history. On May 25, 2013, Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders returning from the party's 'Parivartan Yatra' between Sukma and Jagdalpur. The attack in the Jhiram Ghati area claimed 32 lives.
Among the senior leaders killed were:
- Then state Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel
- Senior leader and former leader of opposition Mahendra Karma
- Former Union minister Vidyacharan Shukla
Nadda contrasted the Congress's approach with the current BJP's, accusing previous Congress governments of "compromising" with Maoists. He credited the "double-engine" governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and CM Vishnu Deo Sai in the state for launching decisive operations against Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
Congress's Furious Backlash and Demand for NIA Action
The Congress party reacted with fury to Nadda's claims. Sushil Anand Shukla, head of the Chhattisgarh Congress communication department, called the statement "objectionable" and demanded to know the basis for such a serious allegation.
"The Congress demands that the NIA interrogate JP Nadda over his claim. He has torn apart all limits of political decorum. He must apologise, and the BJP should take action against him for this statement," Shukla said. He emphasized that the families of the victims and Congress workers have been awaiting justice for over a decade and that making such claims without public evidence is "an insult to the martyrs."
BJP's Claims on Anti-Naxal Success and Corruption Charges
In his speech, Nadda also highlighted the BJP government's successes in curbing Naxalism. He claimed that Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is now confined to a limited number of villages and districts. Citing operational data, he said nearly 2,500 cadres have surrendered in the last two years, 1,853 have been arrested, and top leaders like Hidma and Basavaraju have been neutralised.
Nadda set an ambitious deadline, asserting that Maoism in Chhattisgarh would be "finished by March 2026." He targeted the previous Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, accusing it of corruption, unfulfilled promises, and following an "appeasement" policy while allegedly maintaining an understanding with Maoists. "The people uprooted such an ineffective and deceitful govt in the 2023 assembly elections and brought the BJP back to power," he told the gathering.
The exchange has ignited a fresh and bitter political battle in Chhattisgarh, centering on one of the state's most traumatic security incidents, with both parties digging in for a protracted war of words.
