Signalling a tough stand against Maoists in the wake of killing of its leaders in Chhattisgarh, Congress today virtually ruled out dialogue with them and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh over security lapses.
With assembly elections due by year-end, the party, however, did not apppear enthusiastic about the demand for imposition of President's Rule in the state.
"You hold dialogue with those who are worthy and who could be trusted. .... What can you talk with those who danced on dead bodies?....They are not Naxals but criminals," party spokesperson Bhakt Charan Das told reporters here.
"This is a reflection of angst in the party over the mayhem at Bastar", he said and slammed the Naxals and virtually ruled out any dialogue with them.
Das, who has since long been working as AICC Secretary for Chhattisgarh, also said "it seems the Naxals had prior intelligence and came prepared to eliminate the state Congress leaders."
Speaking separately, Union Minster Jairam Ramesh said the welfare of tribal is "only a mask of Maoists whose real aim is to capture power and run their own government".
"The Maoist issue is no longer only ideologicial. It has now become an alibi for loot, extortion and blackmail...Maoists should not be romanticized.
"These are the ones who are abducting kids to recruit them as cadres. The Prime Minister had said the challenge from Maoists is the most serious security threat ," Ramesh said.
At the AICC briefing, Das said "Raman Singh should step down. We did not want to say anything political as we felt that the Chief Minister would himself resign owning responsibility.
"The irresponsible attitude of the state government has led to a huge loss to democratic values and the Chief Minister should resign admitting the security lapse.
