'Soft corner for Naxals': BJP attacks Cong over Chhattisgarh MLA's Hidma remarks

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) The BJP on Tuesday alleged that the Congress party exhibits a "soft corner" for Naxalism instead of standing with the country's security forces after Chhattisgarh MLA Atal Shrivastava's purported comment about slain Maoist commander Madvi Hidma. The ruling party further claimed that Congress leaders have repeatedly defended or glorified extremists for political gains. The BJP's attack came after Congress MLA Shrivastava, responding to a question on whether Hidma was his role model, reportedly said, "Whoever fights to protect jal (water), jungle, zameen (land) and Bastar's culture will be my role model." The BJP alleged that the remark amounts to glorifying Hidma, one of the country's most wanted Maoist commanders, who was killed in an anti-Naxal operation last year. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that the Congress is "a pro-Naxal terror party" and slammed its "soft support for Naxalism". "A Congress party MLA has made a statement saying that his inspiration is Hidma, the Naxal terrorist. Remember, Rahul Gandhi had shared a video in which slogans in support of Hidma were also raised," he said in a video post on X. Bhandari further alleged that the Congress Party chooses to stand with those "who compromise India's national security". "It is clear that whenever it comes to national security, the Congress Party chooses to stand with those who compromise India's national security. This is why the Congress Party today is a Muslim League-Maoist Congress Party," he alleged. Another BJP national spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, alleged that the Congress has "a long history of going soft on Naxalism" and referred to the Salwa Judum movement in Chhattisgarh. He claimed that the Congress-led UPA government "failed the local Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh by disowning Salwa Judum" and alleged that the party's approach towards Naxalism had allowed the insurgency to continue for decades. "The Congress party has always had a soft approach towards Naxalism. One of the reasons why Naxalism continued unabated for nearly five decades was the Congress party's compromised attitude towards Naxal terrorists," he told PTI. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted the Congress, alleging that it has repeatedly placed "vote-bank politics above national interest". "After Imran Masood batted for Tahir Hussain, now Chhattisgarh Congress MLA Atal Shrivastava has said that one of the most dreaded Naxal terrorists, Hidma, who was involved in the killing of 75 CRPF personnel in 2010, is his role model," he alleged in a video statement. "Earlier too, the Congress has called Naxals 'martyrs' and advocated peace talks. Sonia Gandhi's National Advisory Council (NAC) and other bodies patronised urban Naxals. Once again, the Congress has placed vote-bank politics above national interest," he claimed. Poonawalla further claimed that the Congress has a soft corner for "Naxals" and never stands with its victims. "So, whether it is rioters, terrorists or Naxals, the Congress Party always has a soft corner for them. It places vote-bank politics above national interest. It extends support to people such as Afzal Guru, Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Naxals and Tahir Hussain. But it never sheds tears for their victims. "This is the Congress Party's true character. Congress no longer stands for the Indian National Congress; it has become the Indian Naxal Congress," he alleged. PTI ADI PRK