BJP condemns Bhushan for seeking referendum on deployment of forces in Naxal hit areas

Criticizing Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Prashant Bhushan over his statement about a referendum based deployment of forces in Naxal hit areas, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday strongly condemned his statement saying this will demoralize the armed forces fighting against the Naxals.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, "The BJP strongly condemns these periodic statements, which have a direct impact on internal security related matters."

"The Prime Minister himself said that the gravest threat that we face is from the Naxal movement. The Maoist problem is very sensitive and serious problem. The red corridor relating states are constantly improving on issues taken up by Naxals," she added.

Sitharaman also said that Bhushan's statement, about referendum based deployment of forces in these areas, is going to demoralize the forces and state governments, who are trying hard to sort out this problem.

"None of us have any business to undermine or demoralize the forces who are fighting against the Maoists. Therefore this is a sensitive matter which the Union government and state governments are trying to peacefully sort out. Such statements will not help the situation but on the contrary will only add to it," she said.

On Saturday, Bhushan had created a stir by asking for a referendum on deployment of paramilitary forces in Maoist affected areas. According to various news reports, he also favoured Maoist joining the AAP movement.

He stated three conditions under which the forces should deployed by the state or central government. The first case being the prevention of infiltration through the borders, and forces can only be deployed by the Centre. The case could be of communal riots where the state government should have the power to invoke armed forces deployment in the region. And in third case, civil security could be provided to people and consent should be taken from them for deployment of forces.

He further said that he is in favour of a referendum on deployment of forces in Naxal hit areas as it falls in the third category.

He said the armed forces deployed in such areas only serve the interest of big industrialist rather than the helpless tribals.