UPA lacks will to fight Naxals, says Yashwant Sinha

New Delhi, Apr 15 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha on Thursday said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was divided and lacking will to fight the Maoists menace.

Participating in the debate on Dantewada incident in the Lok Sbha, Yashwant Sinha claimed that opposition parties had come out in support of Chidambaram, but some leaders in the Congress were challenging his policies against the Maoists.

"We stood up with Home Minister, with the Government in the fight against Naxalism. Is Congress with the Government, is the UPA with the Government?" Sinha questioned.

"In an article a Congress General Secretary in a newspaper, has challenged his (Chidambaram's) policy on the Maoist menace. The supreme question is when we need to stand together, the ruling coalition stands severely divided," he added.

Sinha also blamed the Centre for the Dantewada massacre.

"I believe it (anti-Maoist operation) was started without proper preparation. The State Governments were not involved. Actual operations need to be planned by police officers on the ground," he said

"Had the Chief Minister been involved, the Dantewada incident would not have happened," Sinha added.

He also targeted Chidambaram for his statement that the buck stop with him.

"I believe it (anti-Maoist operation) was started without proper preparation. The state governments were not involved. Actual operations need to be planned by police officers on the ground. Had the Chief Minister been involved, the Dantewada incident would not have happened," Sinha said.

Sinha also alleged that the Congess had compromised with the Maoists in Andhra Pradesh for political gains.

"UPA 1 sent out a message that it was ready to compromise with terrorists. They reached a compromise with Maoists in Andhra to achieve political gains," he alleged.

Sinha's statement led to strong protests from the treasury benches.

Speaker Meira Kumar reprimanded Sinha from making allegations that he could not substantiate. (ANI)