D Raja (left), Pradeep Bhandari (ANI)

NEW DELHI: CPI general secretary D Raja on Tuesday questioned the government’s push for a “Naxal mukt Bharat” and urged it to accept the proposal made by Naxal groups for talks. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress and its allies of backing Maoist violence.While addressing an event in Delhi, Raja questioned the intent behind anti-naxal operations, alluding it was bound to fail according to him as was BJP’s said agenda of “Congress mukt Bharat”. He said, “What is this Naxal Mukt Bharat? Already, they spoke about the Congress Mukt Bharat. What happened to Congress Mukt Bharat? Tomorrow they will say Communist Mukt Bharat,” Raja said during a press conference, as per ANI.The CPI veteran added, “If the BJP and RSS, combined, continue to be in power, the future of India will be imperial. If we want to save India, save the constitution, we should remove the BJP RSS from power.”The remarks come in the backdrop of the ongoing anti-Naxal operation, dubbed Operation Black Forest, under which the number of most-affected Naxal districts has reportedly come down to six.Reacting to Raja’s statement, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress and CPI of “supporting violent Naxals and Maoists,” and “opposing India’s fight against Red Terror.”In a post on X, Bhandari wrote, “What is this Naxal Mukt Bharat’ says CPI Gen Secretary D Raja! Rahul Gandhi’s alliance partner CPI gives support to violent Naxals and Maoists! Congress CPI opposes India’s fight against Red Terror.”He further alleged that the CPI and Congress are “Pro Naxals, Pro Red Terror”, and accused them of compromising internal security and “ideologically patronising” left-wing extremism. “Congress CPI are ‘Political Tukde Tukde Gang’,” he wrote.The CPI is part of the INDIA alliance, which includes the Congress and other opposition parties gearing up for the upcoming assembly and general elections including Kerala where CPI shares power.