Maoists' patrons were Sonia Gandhi's advisors: RS Prasad

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar on Monday launched a blistering attack on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and said that 10 years of Manmohan Singh government took no effective action against Maoists as their patrons were part of the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's advisory committee.

Prasad said, "We have a clear view that everyone has a right to criticise the government but no one has a right to wish ill for the country. Everyone knows that how many of these urban-Maoists are related to Congress. During the 10 years of Manmohan Singh government, no effective action was taken against Maoists because their patrons were in the advisory committee of Sonia Gandhi."

He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government for effectively tackling the Naxal problem.

He said, "Our government has played a pivotal role in decreasing the Naxal problem on the national level. Previously 150 districts of the country were Naxal affected but now the numbers of such districts have come down to 75-80."

Prasad also lauded the Supreme Court verdict on Bhima Koregaon case and said, "Supreme Court today dismissed a case against urban-Maoists. Who are these people? These people give their blessings to Maoists. They can never fight an election and if they will fight they will lose deposit but they have this thinking that they will only govern the country."

Blaming the Congress party president Rahul Gandhi for making baseless allegations, the union minister claimed that prices fixed by the NDA government for Rafale deal are 9% less than the price decided by the UPA.

"India got 9% rebate on UPA price. Rahul Gandhi and Congress are playing with the national security," Prasad said.