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Malviya accused Raja of siding with the “Naxals” and of betraying the Constitution by defending those who, he said, seek to overthrow it.
BJP Tears Into CPI’s D Raja Over Call For Talks With Maoists
BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya on Monday launched a blistering attack on CPI general secretary D Raja after the veteran left leader appeared to urge talks with Maoist groups and questioned the Centre’s “Naxal Mukt Bharat” campaign. Malviya accused Raja of siding with the “Naxals” and of betraying the Constitution by defending those who, he said, seek to overthrow it.
Malviya calls Raja a “traitor”
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Posting on X, Malviya condemned Raja’s remarks as a belated and disconcerting alignment with what he termed the CPI leader’s “ideological fellow travellers”.
“This is nothing short of betrayal,” Malviya wrote, arguing that urban left-leaning activists had historically abandoned armed militants when it mattered. He insisted the government has offered a clear choice: “surrender arms or face the law,” and pledged that the March 2026 target for a Naxal-free India was “cast in stone.”
Malviya also said that both Congress and the Communist parties are losing relevance, calling communism a “dying ideology” and accusing Congress of past appeasement.
What D Raja said?
D Raja, speaking at a press conference in Delhi on Monday, had criticised the operation aimed at eliminating Maoist influence, dubbing the rhetoric around “Naxal Mukt Bharat” hollow and comparing it to earlier slogans such as “Congress Mukt Bharat.”
Raja questioned the government’s strategy and urged that talks with Naxal groups be considered rather than a purely military approach. He warned that the continued dominance of the BJP and the RSS would imperil the Constitution and urged citizens to act to “save the constitution” by removing them from power.
The exchange has further sharpened political polarisation over how to address left-wing extremism. BJP figures framed Raja’s comments as evidence that sections of the Left and Congress are sympathetic to violent groups; in turn, left leaders accused the government of using security operations to score political points. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari echoed Malviya’s critique, accusing the Opposition of shielding those responsible for terror and obstruction.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Delhi, India, India
September 30, 2025, 13:17 IST
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