The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized the Congress-led Karnataka government for its handling of a recent Naxal surrender. The event, held at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s official residence in Bengaluru, saw six former Naxals from the Western Ghats surrender in the presence of both the Chief Minister and Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
N. Ravi Kumar, a Karnataka Legislative Council member, questioned the propriety of holding such a high-profile event at the Chief Minister’s office. While he acknowledged the importance of resolving Naxal issues through surrender, he argued that the process should be conducted under police supervision rather than politicized. He also raised concerns about justice for victims of Naxal violence and expressed skepticism about the government’s claim that these were the last remaining Naxals in Karnataka.
BJP state general secretary Sunil Kumar also criticized the event, questioning whether it symbolized Naxals surrendering to the state or the government surrendering to Naxals under pressure. In a social media post, he accused Siddaramaiah of undermining recent police efforts, including the encounter of Naxal leader Vikram Gowda, by turning the surrender into a political spectacle.
The BJP’s criticism highlights ongoing tensions between the opposition and the ruling Congress government over internal security and Naxal violence. They have demanded greater clarity and accountability in the government’s approach to addressing the issue, arguing that such events should prioritize victims and law enforcement efforts.
