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The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday asked Home Minister P Chidambaram not to resign in the wake of Maoists' massacre of 76 security personnel in Dantewada, saying he should 'not show his back' as it would mean a victory for the Naxals.
"BJP does not want Chidambaram to resign at this stage. His resignation at this stage would mean a victory for Naxalites. He should not show his back because as the Home Minister of the country he is entrusted with the nation's security and can't whimper like an injured soldier on a back foot," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told mediapersons in New Delhi.
He said BJP would not accept the victory of Maoists, who have managed to pull off the worst ever ambush on security forces.
"Though the government has failed on all fronts, it is not the time for a Senapati (commander) to step down," Rudy said adding security forces involved in anti-Naxal operations require inspiration.
"They should not be demoralised," he said. The BJP Member of Parliament, however, took a dig at Chidambaram saying, "He has become victim of his 'the buck stops here' statement... the buck stops where is not important for us at this stage. Our concern is that security forces should not be seen losing the battle at this stage."
Chidambaram had come under attack from Left parties for telling West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya 'the buck stops with you' (on ending political violence in the state).
The BJP expects the Home Minister's stand, statement and leadership at this crucial juncture to be aspirational rather than being confessional, he said.
Rudy said the Home Minister should also come clean on 'whether his offer to resign was suo motu or he was under pressure after being denied a free hand in tackling the menace.'
Asked as to why BJP was supporting him when it had sought the then Home Minister's resignation after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Rudy said the party stood united with the government 'irrespective of politics.'
He said the party would corner the government on various issues, including Naxalism and rising prices, in Parliament.
"Parliament is the appropriate forum to debate such issues". Taking responsibility for the worst Naxalite carnage on security forces, the Home Minister had offered his resignation from the Cabinet to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who on Friday rejected it.