This has triggered serious doubts about whether tribal youths are safe in Chhattisgarh, as the Congress party accused the government of staging a fake encounter in Narayanpur. State Congress President Deepak Baij accused the youth wing that had gone bird hunting had being labeled as Naxalites and killed in a fake encounter. He cited in particular the example of Abhay Netam, in that eyewitness evidence shows this person was not a Naxalite. Baij said that Netam had gone to hunt, but he was shot in the back, and the bullet went through his body. “Who is to blame for this bogus meeting? Silence of the government. What is the Home Minister doing not to reply?” Baij questioned and said there should be accountability.
He also argued that fake encounters are repeatedly being witnessed against tribal youths in Bastar and that the ground situation cannot be described as being good. In order to look into the issue, a committee has been constituted by the Congress, headed by Mohan Markam. Baij cautioned that unless the government acts harshly against the perpetrators of the crime, the Congress, as well as the tribal organisations will initiate a large-scale protest movement throughout the state.
Besides, Baij also attacked Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for using a partisan stance. In his media interaction, Baij accused Kumar of speaking the language of BJP leaders in instances when he appeared at the press conference, which makes the conduct of free and fair elections meaningless. He insisted on the immediate dismissal of Kumar, which he said would be the only way of ensuring that the election process would be neutral and transparent.
By connecting the two problems, Baij was emphatic that the Congress would still resist not only the way the government was dealing with law and order but also any effort to undermine the democratic institutions. He repeated that fair elections and justice to tribal citizens are non-negotiable guidelines to the party.
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