Chhattisgarh babu in a soup over 'US aid' issue

Raipur, May 27 (UNI) Chhattisgarh's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) B K S Ray seems to be in a tight spot over his apparent nod to two Mumbai-based US consular officials' offer for assistance in naxalism-affected areas.

Amid reports of the External Affairs Ministry and Union Home Ministry taking cognisance of the matter, Mr Ray clarified in a statement issued late last night, ''It was talk about humanitarian aid and not any help in the anti-rebel campaign.'' The state government did not seek any assistance from the US in the anti-naxal campaign and the Centre was fully cooperating towards combating the menace, the bureaucrat claimed.

The consular officials met Mr Ray two days back and later issued a statement that stirred a virtual hornet's nest yesterday at the national level with the Left parties issuing separate statements condemning it as interference in the country's internal affairs and even seeking a clarification from the Centre.

''The state government heartily welcomes any voice against violence and terrorism but that does not mean foreign intervention will be accepted for solving the naxalism problem,'' Mr Ray reiterated.

Squarely blaming the bureaucrat for the entire dispute, highly-placed sources told UNI that a senior officer like Mr Ray should profoundly contemplate prior to making a statement over any sensitive issue.

UNI AS-AC YA KP1901