Two Gadchiroli Panchayat members quit for 'failing' Naxals

"Maoists had appealed to elected representatives and common people in a public court held in May that the funds meant for the poor were being siphoned off by corrupt officials and contractors. As we are not able to stop the corruption as we had promised to the Naxals, we are stepping down willingly," said Rushi Portet and Shriniwas Gawde, members of Petha and Jimalgatta segments, respectively, in their resignation letters addressed to the chairman of the Aheri Panchayat Samiti.

The members had also sent the copies of their resignation letters to the district collector, superintendent of police and other officials before issuing the media statement recently.

More than 100 elected representatives and office-bearers of political parties in the district had quit from their posts so far owing to the Naxal threat but nobody had mentioned the reason of the threat.

Home Minister R R Patil is the Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli district.