Jharkhand Government failing to tackle Maoist menace: Congress - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Palamu District Congress Committee has slammed the Jharkhand Government for not tackling the Maoist menace effectively in their region. Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Congress party leader S S Dhillon said: "The government is watching everything like a spectator. Maoists have become their MLAs. The government is functioning on the basis of their support. When the time will come, the public will answer this. The responsibility of the government is to maintain law and order and protect the lives of the public and look after development. Alas, it's a lawless state". The Congress party workers of Palamu also decided to depute a delegation to meet Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and apprise them of the Maoist menace in Jharkhand. Earlier, a group of suspected Maoists shot dead Gobardhan Mahali, an active member of Congress party at Majbhandar village in Dalbhumgarh Block of East Singhbhum district to protest against Operation Green Hunt in the state. The Maoists had earlier warned that it would kill Congress leaders if the operation is not stopped against them. Most Maoist rebels have ignored calls from the Government to renounce violence and negotiate. Instead, they have stepped up their attacks in recent months, prompting the government to go after them in a concerted strike. Maoist rebels, had on February 22, offered a conditional 72-day ceasefire through the media, and said they were willing to talk to the government if it aborts Operation Green Hunt. Many believe the offer was a ruse to enable them to regroup. The Maoists contend they are fighting for the rights of the poor, marginal farmers and the landless labourers.