Jogi demands dismissal of Raman Singh Govt

New Delhi, Mar 1 (UNI) Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today demanded dismissal of the Raman Singh government in the state holding the Chief Minister responsible for yesterday's killing of 26 tribals by Naxalites in Dantewada district.

''The attack by naxalites on the tribals is indicative of the failure of the state government and its intelligence apparatus,"Mr Jogi said while participating in a discussion in the Lok Sabha on yesterday's incident in which 26 tribals were killed and 30 injured in a landmine blast that ripped off one of the four trucks carrying tribals.

The tribals were returning to their hamlets after attending an anti-Naxalite demonstration, called Salwa Judum, which is intended to oppose the Naxalites and their violence peacefully.

Calling the Salwa Judum movement a futile excecise, the former Chief Minister said the triblas participating in the anti-Naxal demonstration were generally left to fend themselves after the demonstration. Such tribals who shout slogans against naxalites in the presence of police, are killed by Naxalites, he added.

The tribals in the Bastar region have been dying like this at the hands of Naxalites, he said.

Mr Jogi said the problem needed to be looked into from social and economic angle and should not be politicised.

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