Maoist strike an attack on democracy: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Sunday said the Maoist attack on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh was an attack on democracy.

"This is not an attack on the Congress workers or on the Congress party. It is an attack on the ideals of India, founded on the bedrock of non-violence," Gandhi told reporters here.

"No force, howsoever brutal, can deter us through violent means. Our nation shall never be deterred from working for the welfare and well-being of all our people through peaceful, democratic and constitutional means," he said.

Responding to a question on the imposition of President's Rule in the state, the party vice president said: "It is not time to do politics here. It's a very sad incident and we all have to stand together."

A large number of Maoists Saturday attacked a Congress party convoy, blocking its way with felled trees, setting off a landmine blast and then opening fire in Sukma district. The attack left close to 30 people dead and 25 injured.

Among the dead were Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh assembly Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh Patel, former leader of opposition Mahendra Karma, Chhattisgarh Congress president Uday Mudaliyar and former legislator from Rajnandgaon Gopichand Madhwani.