'Urban Naxals In Bharat Jodo Yatra': Fadnavis Makes Big Claim In Maharashtra Assembly

3 weeks ago

Last Updated:December 19, 2024, 20:48 IST

CM Devendra Fadnavis claimed to have evidence of a meeting in Kathmandu in November, where individuals linked to 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and "urban Naxals" discussed plans to destabilise Maharashtra government

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis's remarks have sparked a political uproar. (Image: PTI/File)

Making a big claim, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said “urban Naxals" were involved in Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, a cross-country padyatra of sorts undertaken by the senior Congress leader ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to the media, Fadnavis claimed to have evidence of a meeting held in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on November 15, where individuals linked to the Bharat Jodo Yatra and “urban Naxals" discussed plans to destabilise the Maharashtra government.

“We have concrete evidence that such a meeting took place, and discussions were centered around efforts to create political instability in Maharashtra. These actions are part of a larger conspiracy," he said.

Earlier in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, he alleged that 48 out of 180 organisations involved with the Bharat Jodo Yatra were previously named as “frontal". He claimed that in February 2014, the Manmohan Singh-led central government named 72 “frontal organisations" in the Lok Sabha, seven of which were part of Bharat Jodo, and 13 others had been named in anti-Naxal operations.

“…There are 180 different organisations of Bharat Jodo. Out of these, 40 organisations organised programmes and published pamphlets for Bharat Jodo during the election period; 48 organisations have been previously named as frontal organisations. The then home minister RR Patil had mentioned this. On February 18, 2014, during the Manmohan Singh government, the central government mentioned 72 frontal organisations in the Lok Sabha, out of which 7 organisations are from Bharat Jodo; 13 organisations whose names were taken by anti-Naxal operation are related to Bharat Jodo," he said in the assembly.

The chief minister’s remarks have sparked a political uproar, with opposition parties dismissing his claims as baseless and an attempt to divert attention from pressing governance issues. Congress leaders, including those involved in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, have demanded that he produce evidence to substantiate these allegations.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, spearheaded by Gandhi, aimed to promote unity and counter-divisive politics. But, these accusations have now cast a shadow over the movement, linking it to groups allegedly working against national interest.

Location : First Published:

December 19, 2024, 20:48 IST

'Urban Naxals In Bharat Jodo Yatra': Fadnavis Makes Big Claim In Maharashtra Assembly

Read Full Article at Source