BJP responsible for spread of Maoism in Jharkhand: Sonia Gandhi

RANCHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi Sunday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) for the spread of the Maoist problem in Jharkhand.

"Due to wrong policies of the BJP government in Jharkhand, the Maoist menace spread from two-three districts to the entire state," Gandhi said while addressing an election rally in Gumla district ahead of the state assembly polls.

"The BJP's rule also is responsible for the misery of the state. The BJP has ruled the state for a long period of time," she said.

Besides, Gandhi appealed to the Maoists to shun violence.

The Congress president criticised the central government for not releasing funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which was launched by the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"Jharkhand having major chunk of minerals could be developed... the BJP has no road map for the development of the state and it is only implementing the UPA policies," she said.

She also addressed another election rally in Daltonganj.

Assembly elections in Jharkhand will be held in five phases between November 25 and December 20.