On October 4, security forces killed 31 Naxalites on the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts. This is the highest number of deaths of Maoist terrorists in a single operation in the 24 years since the formation of Chhattisgarh state. This incident again reopened the wounds of terrorism in the country. All types of terrorist incidents in the country started when Congress was in power at the Center and in the states. The country is still suffering the consequences of such bloody incidents due to the wrong policies of Congress. Be it terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxalites, North-East or Khalistan in Punjab, the country has paid a heavy price for the mistakes of Congress. Similarly, the dark history of the crimes of dacoits in the ravines of Chambal, which prevailed in three states for decades, was also written during the Congress rule. The most surprising thing is that Congress did not learn from these mistakes. Be it terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir or Naxalites, Congress has never shown strictness like the Modi government at the Centre. On the contrary, Congress’s attitude has been sympathetic towards terror supporters due to vote bank politics. Along with careless and neglectful policies, Congress has also paid the price for ignoring terrorism for political gains. On 25 May 2013, Naxalite insurgents of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) attacked a convoy of Congress leaders in Jheeram valley of Darbha valley in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. At least 27 people were killed in the attack, including senior Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla, former minister of state Mahendra Karma and Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel.
All three types of terrorism have flourished during the Congress rule at the Center and in the states. In this, dacoits were eliminated to a great extent in Chambal. Pro-Pakistan terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalite terrorism in some states of the country is now increasing rapidly. The BJP government at the Center has been successful in curbing both types of terrorists to a great extent. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a review meeting with the Chief Ministers of Left Wing Extremism affected states that Naxalism will be eliminated by 2026. Shah said that for the first time in 30 years, the death toll from left-wing extremism has been less than 100. There has been a reduction of about 53 percent in the incidents of violence. The number of districts affected by Naxalite violence has been limited to 42 districts instead of 96. Out of these 42 districts, 21 districts have been newly formed. Of these, only about 16 districts are affected by Naxal violence.
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Not only the common people of the country but also the BJP government at the Center are suffering the consequences of Congress’s wrong policies related to the country’s security. Not only does the central government have to spend crores of rupees to deal with the terrorists, but the police and security forces have to suffer huge human losses. Naxal terrorism emerged in West Bengal during the Congress rule. It spread to about eight states of the country. Congress was in power in most of these states and the Centre. The then Congress governments failed to stop the Naxalites. Center and states could not work together. Naxalites became a scourge for the country. The present BJP coalition government at the Center is determined to root out the Naxalites who cause bloodshed.
Like Naxalite affected states, Jammu and Kashmir is also still burning in the fire of terrorism. This troubled union territory has been ruled by the National Conference and Congress since independence. The Congress at the Center and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir completely failed to teach a lesson to the terrorists. Terrorism has raised its head in Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of Pakistan. National Conference, Congress and other regional parties continued to maintain a soft attitude towards terrorists. Incidents of stone pelting in support of terrorists caused damage to security forces. In this state which has special status due to Section 370 and 35A, this law has been becoming a shield for terrorists. Despite terrorist incidents, Congress never tried to abolish this law. On the contrary, due to Muslim votes, Congress could never show the same strictness as BJP.
The situation reached such a level that during the Congress rule at the Centre, pro-Pakistan terrorist organizations disrupted law and order by carrying out bomb blasts in the country. Due to the failure and lax security policy of the Congress government at the Centre, the country’s security system almost collapsed. The morale of Pakistani terrorists increased so much that on December 13, 2001, nine people died in the terrorist attack on the Parliament House in Delhi. Similarly, at least 174 people were killed in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. These included 20 security force personnel and 26 foreign nationals. Till one and a half decade ago, terrorists had wreaked havoc. Despite being in power at the Center and most of the states, Congress could not eliminate the terrorists.
The state of terrorism in the country was such that in 2006, at least 232 out of 608 districts of the country were plagued by various insurgent and terrorist activities of varying intensity levels. In August 2008, National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan said that more than 800 terrorist groups are active in the country. In the 1980s, extremism gained momentum in Punjab. Due to the wrong policies of the Congress government at the Centre, Punjab continued to burn in the fire of terrorism for a long time. As a result, not only were thousands of innocent people killed, but Indira Gandhi lost her life while holding the post of Prime Minister. Dozens of Congress leaders in Punjab also had to pay the price of Khalistani terrorism by losing their lives.
Like Punjab, the Congress government at the Center failed to handle the Northeast. Congress could not solve the problems of these states. The Northeast continued to suffer the brunt of regional terrorists for decades. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isaac Muivah, led several attacks on Indian Army positions in the region, demanding an independent Nagaland. According to government officials, 599 civilians, 235 security forces and 862 terrorists lost their lives between 1992 and 2000.
These actions of terrorists prove that the Congress government at the Center could not control the situation. As soon as the BJP came to power at the Centre, it gave priority to the elimination of terrorism present in any part of the country. Due to the internal security policies of the Centre, terrorist activities in the North-East could be curbed. Due to the strict security policies of the BJP government, the morale of Pakistani terrorists was defeated. Apart from some terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, there were no bomb blasts anywhere in the country. Important success in this was achieved after the removal of Article 370, due to which a new chapter of development was written with the end of stone pelting. The question is whether Congress will learn any lesson from history regarding terrorism and law and order. For the Congress, which came to power in Jammu and Kashmir with the National Conference, maintaining peace in the state is no less than a litmus test. It remains to be seen whether Congress is successful in this test or not.
– Yogendra Yogi
