BJP blames Centre for naxal attack in Orissa

NEW DELHI: With naxals striking terror in NDA-ruled Orissa, BJP on Saturday put the onus of combating Left-wing insurgency on the Central Government and alleged that it has failed in this responsibility.

The party said the Congress-led UPA government has remained a mute spectator while naxalites extended their influence from Pashupatinath in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

"The UPA government has completely failed to address the issue of naxalism and the Orissa attack vindicates our stand. The red corridor now extends from Pashupatinath to Tirupati," party spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.

Although he blamed the Centre of failure in combating Left insurgency, the party spokesman claimed that the whole process of "checkmating" naxalism has "demolished" after the ban on naxalism was lifted in Andhra Pradesh.

He was reacting to the Maoist attack on a police station and a police training college in Nayagarh district of Orissa late last night, which claimed the lives of 14 people, including 13 policemen.