Unfortunate BJP is raising suspicions about NIA, says RPN Singh

Minister of State for Home RPN Singh on Tuesday conceded that there was a security lapse that resulted in the Chhattisgarh attack by the Maoists, but said that action would be taken against those responsible. Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Singh said the attack was extremely unfortunate. [caption id=“attachment_822511” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] MoS Home RPN Singh. PIB Image[/caption] “There was a security lapse, the Standard Operating Procedures which were issued were not followed by the state police… anyone found guilty will not be spared.” Singh also said it was extremely unfortunate that the NIA was brought under suspicion by the BJP. “It is unfortunate that our offices are being dismantled by BJP.. they (NIA) have a good record in solving cases.. just because Malegaon was investigated by NIA to put the blame on them is unfortunate,” the minister said. Singh denied the BJP’s claims that the central government was laying the blame at the state government’s doorstep and said they weren’t blaming anyone for now. “Let the NIA investigate and let the report come in, once we get the report, we will point fingers. The buck has to stop somewhere,” he said. The minister also claimed that the attack was because of government policies that have put Naxals on the back foot. “They have done this to show that they have not been pushed back by the government’s policies,” Singh said. The minister conceded that development was required in Naxal-hit states but blamed all shortfalls on the state government. “The kind of money we have given for roads, hospitals has been left unused by the government,” he said. He also rejected the claim that the government was reaching out to the Naxals. “We are not reaching out to Naxals, we are reaching out to tribals who are living there.” “We are seeing a new low in the kind of barbarism the Naxals are using against CRPF, paramilitary forces.. they have taken it to a different inhumane level… we need to rethink our stratergies,” Singh said. He also said that the central government has allocated 30 battalions to Chhattisgarh, amounting to around 30,000 paramilitary forces. On being asked about Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s absence, Singh refused to comment, but said Shinde was in constant touch with him as well as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh. “Shinde is in constant touch with the ministry and with me… he has been hands on… he will be back shortly,” Singh said.