Aam Aadmi Party's lok Sabha candidate Soni Sori believes she has a higher 'connect' with the tribals of the interior pockets of insurgency-hit Bastar compared to any other candidate in the region.
"I am also visiting the 'interior-most' parts of Bastar to interact with people," she said, talking to The Pioneer over telephone during one of her tours inside Bastar.
"The people living in the interior pockets of Bastar know me very well. They are turning out in large numbers to interact with me. I am contesting this poll for them to ensure peace and development in Bastar," Sori said.
The AAP candidate said that her core agenda is to fight for ending the bloodshed in Bastar brought about by years of insurgency. "I want to see all innocent tribals released from Chhattisagrh's prisons who had been branded as insurgents and thrown into jails."
She said that there had been no development in most parts of Bastar. "There is no education. There are no buildings for schools. There are no hospitals and those that are existing have no medicines," Sori said.
"I want to ask for how long will Bastar suffer from insurgencyIJ Enough is enough. The region is crying for peace and development," she said.
She further remarked: "Where is the government when the tribals are facing atrocities. The schools have closed down in Bastar and incidents such as Jhaliamari have been happening. Where is development taking place in BastarIJ"
Sori had been visiting the interior-most pockets of Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur districts which are known to be Maoist strongholds. When asked if she was campaigning under adequate security cover, she retorted: "Who will provide me securityIJ"
To another question whether AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal would arrive in Bastar to campaign with her, she stated: "He has a busy campaigning schedule but I would certainly like him to come to Bastar."