Jhiram Valley attack case: Why did Congress not submit evidence to probe agency, asks Chhattisgarh CM Sai
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday hit out at the Congress over its criticism of the NIA court verdict in the 2013 Jhiram Valley Maoist attack case, and asked why the party did not submit any evidence of its claims to the probe agency.
Political statements cannot change the truth, Sai said in a statement.
An NIA court in Jagdalpur on Saturday convicted all 10 accused arrested in connection with the attack, in which 29 people, including senior Congress leaders Vidya Charan Shukla and Mahendra Karma, were killed. The court has fixed September 16 for pronouncing the quantum of punishment.
The deadly attack took place on May 25, 2013, when Maoists ambushed the Congress’ ‘Parivartan Rally’ on a national highway in Jhiram Valley under Darbha police station limits in Bastar district.
Reacting to the verdict, senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had described it as “incomplete justice”, saying the alleged larger political conspiracy behind the attack had not been investigated.
State Congress president Deepak Baij had said the conviction of 10 accused was not justice for Bastar, the victims’ families or the Congress.
Responding to the criticism, Sai said the case was handed over to the NIA when the Congress-led UPA Government was in power at the Centre. “The investigation and judicial process continued for nearly 13 years. More than 100 witnesses were examined and the court delivered its verdict after examining all the facts and evidence. The court has convicted 10 people and will determine their punishment on September 16,” Sai said.
He said the Congress should also remember that the NIA is the country’s premier investigation agency and not an agency of any State Government.
“If Congress leaders had any facts, evidence or proof related to the case, they should have placed them before the investigating agency. Now, after the court verdict, making political statements is merely an attempt to evade questions,” Sai said.
Taking a dig at Baghel, Sai said that when the Congress leader was in the opposition, he used to claim he was “carrying evidence in his pocket”.
“The question is, if he had the evidence, why did he not hand it over to the NIA? He had sufficient time to place the facts before the investigating agency. It is easy to make allegations, but facts and evidence are required to substantiate them,” Sai said in a swipe at Baghel.
Judicial proceedings are based on evidence and facts, not political statements, he added.
On the Congress’ recent organisational reshuffle, Sai alleged the party’s politics continued to follow the British policy of “divide and rule”.
“Wherever the Congress goes, factionalism and internal disputes begin. Instead of working together on people’s issues, its leaders remain engaged in political battles against each other,” he said.
The Congress on Saturday appointed Sachin Pilot as its general secretary in-charge of poll-bound Punjab, replacing Baghel, who has been shifted to Assam in the same position.
Sai said there was opposition when Baghel was made Punjab in-charge. “Perhaps that is why he has been shifted to another state,” the CM added.
Sai said the Congress’ organisational changes were its internal matter, but the continuing differences among its leaders reflected the party’s political culture.
