Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted that the death of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and four policemen who were killed in a Naxal attack a couple of days ago would not go in vain, and the perpetrators would be punished.
He was addressing an election rally at Basna in Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency of the state.
Bhima Mandavi and four others were killed in Dantewada district on Tuesday when the Naxals blew up their vehicle triggering an IED blast.
“I am pained by the martyrdom of MLA Bhima Mandavi and jawans. Their sacrifice will not go in vain. The perpetrators will not be forgiven,” Singh said.
“Change can be brought in Naxal-affected areas through democratic means, not through guns. The Naxals have now weakened in the country. The Centre stands with the state in its fight against the Naxals,” he said.
On Congress’ promise to repeal the sedition law, the Union home minister asked the gathering “whether the anti-national people should be forgiven”.
If our government is elected to power, the law will remain in force,” Singh said.
He also said the Congress raised a hue and cry over Rafale fighter aircraft purchase, but had the deal been completed during its tenure, Indian forces would not have needed to venture inside Pakistan to destroy terror camps. The camps could have been hit from inside the Indian territory, he added.
“When we conducted air strike on terror camps in Pakistan, the Congress is asking for evidences. (Then prime minister) Indira Gandhi was praised by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Parliament for her action against Pakistan (in the 1971 war), then why (prime minister) Modi cannot be praised for the air strike (now),” Singh asked.
The senior BJP leader also said that those who level charges of corruption at Modi “should be punished severely”.
“Modi has devoted his life for the country. For whom he will indulge in corruption and earn money?” he asked.
Grafts like Submarine scam, 2G scam were committed by Congress governments and its leaders were in jail, yet the party was accusing the BJP government of corruption, he said. The BJP has fielded Chunnilal Sahu from Mahasamund, where polling will be held on April 18, along with two other seats in the state, namely, Rajnandgon and Kanker.
