PM visits injured Naxal attack victims, holds review meet

Condemning the Maoist attack on a Congress rally in Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that Maoism is a serious challenge to Indian democracy and joint efforts are being made to combat it.

"Maoist violence is a serious challenge to Indian democracy. The centre and Maoist-affected states are working together on the issue," Singh said while visiting the attack victims at RamkrishnaCareHospital.

The prime minister promised to provide every possible assistance to the Chhattisgarh government to deal with Maoist violence. He also urged people to rise above party politics to fight Maoism.

"The union government will provide every possible assistance to the Chhattisgarh government to deal with Maoists," Singh said, adding that people should rise above politics and ideologies to stand together Maoism.

After visiting victims of the attack, Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi went to the Congress Bhawan and paid tributes to the deceased and also visited family members of Congress leader Nand Kumar Patel, who died in the Maoist attack, to express their condolences.

The prime minister held a review meeting on the incident at the governor's house which was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Governor Shekhar Dutt, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh.

Speaking to reporters, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs RPN Singh assured that action would be taken against those guilty, after a probe into the incident is carried out.

"The investigation will be conducted after which action will be taken against those found guilty. If lapses are found on the part of central security forces, then corrections will be carried out. If the state administration has shortcomings, then I hope appropriate steps will be taken," RPN Singh said.

After being asked about imposing President's rule in the state, Singh said, "I don't want to play politics on this issue."

Heavily armed Maoists ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district yesterday, killing 27 people including Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel, senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, and injuring V C Shukla and 31 others.