Condemning the naxal attack on CRPF personnel in Sukma, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi today said such "thoughtless violence" will never succeed in weakening the resolve to fight extremist forces.
The party also demanded that the Narendra Modi government take immediate and strong action against the forces behind the incident.
Describing the attack as "mindless and ruthless strike on our security forces", Sonia Gandhi said the sacrifice of 24 brave men was a big loss to the nation.
"Such attacks will never deter the fight against extremism," she said.
The Congress president also expressed solidarity with friends and families of the martyrs and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.
Party vice president Rahul Gandhi lauded the courage and sacrifice of CRPF personnel while offering his condolences to the bereaved families.
"This thoughtless violence will never succeed in weakening our resolve to fight forces of extremism. My sincere condolences to the families of CRPF personnel martyred in the attack in Sukma. We salute the sacrifice and courage of our bravehearts," he said on Twitter.
At least 26 CRPF personnel were killed and six wounded in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district today, the deadliest attack by naxalites targeting security forces this year.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said it was an unfortunate incident and hoped the Central government take immediate action against those involved in the act.
"We hope the Central government will act against all those who have committed this crime and take immediate and appropriate action against them, be it Maoists or anybody else," he said at the AICC briefing.
AICC incharge of communications department Randeep Singh Surjewala said this was the second dastardly attack by Naxalites in recent times in the state.
He said on March 11 this year, 11 paramilitary commandos had sacrificed themselves in a brutal naxalite attack.
"Did BJP-led Chattisgarh government learn any lesson? Is it not a clear case of Intelligence failure on part of Central and state government? How does the present government propose to tackle Naxalites?
"The Prime Minister should take decisive action against anti-national forces, who are directly challenging the might of the nation," he said.
"Our salute to the brave soldiers and condolences to their families," Surjewala said.
"Congress fought with Naxals and sacrificed. Nand Kumar Patel/Vidya Charan Shukla/Mahender Karma and other leaders laid down their lives," he said.
The Congress party also tweeted, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the security personnel who lost their lives in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh.
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