New Delhi, Aug 18: Several victims of Maoist violence decried senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday for his “proud to be a dimaagi Naxal” remark, saying such statements should not be made only to “increase followers” or push “some kind of an agenda”.
“Hundreds of people have lost their lives in Naxal violence over the years. A large number of people, who have lost their body parts in various incidents of Naxal violence, are somehow living their life. This is not a joke,” Rudresh Singh, a victim of Maoist violence, told a press conference held here under the aegis of the Bastar Shanti Committee.
Singh, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, was one of the security personnel injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast and firing by Maoists during an anti-Naxalite operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
“And because of that, one of my legs ultimately had to be amputated below the knee,” he said.
“Sitting in an air-conditioned room in Delhi and saying ‘I am proud to be a dimaagi Naxal’ is completely worthless talk. Such remarks should not be made just to increase followers or push some kind of an agenda,” he added.
Several other victims of Naxal violence, who came from Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region to hold the press conference at the Constitution Club of India here, also criticised Chidambaram, saying, “We are deeply hurt with his comment.”
Chidambaram took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over his “dimaagi Naxal” remark and said, “I am proud to be a dimaagi Naxal.”
The Congress leader’s dig at the prime minister came a day after Modi warned the country about the “dimaagi Naxals” who have allegedly entrenched themselves in the system and continue to pose a threat to society by manipulating policies. Modi urged citizens to “identify and isolate” them.
Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, the prime minister said the country has succeeded in removing armed Naxalism from the forests but warned that its ideological supporters are seeking opportunities to promote violence and anarchy.
Siyaram Ramteke, another victim of Naxal violence from Bastar, slammed Chidambaram for his remarks and questioned his intent.
“Why did he say so? We have come here because we could not bear his comment. When he is giving such a statement while being a former home minister and a senior leader of a party, who will stand with us?” he asked.
“We have survived and somehow we are living. We want to tell dimaagi Naxals that we should not go back in that direction. We must move forward on the path of peace. Bastar wants development. Everyone should support it,” Ramteke said. (PTI)
