Chhattisgarh world champ in corruption, says Rahul

kanker (Chhattisgarh) — Raising the pitch ahead of the assembly elections in Chhatisgarh, Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the ruling BJP of failing to act against naxalism, claiming former PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel was killed in the Bastar ambush to stop him from becoming chief minister.

He said the Chhattisgarh government was responsible for the killing of many Congress leaders in the deadly naxal ambush on May 25 this year.

“Nand Kumar Patel was going to become to the chief minister of Chhattisgarh. Nobody could have stopped him. Only one way to stop him was by killing him,” Gandhi said.

“Their (BJP) people say they are against terrorism but when the entire Congress leadership was wiped off, was any action taken by the state government ?” he asked.

Addressing his first rally in Rajnandgaon, the home constituency of Chief Minister Raman Singh, Gandhi struck an emotional note by reminding voters about the sacrifices made by those killed in the attack.

Addressing another rally at Kanker, Gandhi lashed out at the BJP government in the state for “snatching” the rights of people, especially tribals.

Gandhi recalled that the chief secretary of Chhattisgarh had accused a minister of corruption. “This can happen only in Chhattisgarh. They are the champion of corruption, the world champion,” he said. —