Shocked over the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh,President Pranab Mukherjee today said the nation will neither be overawed nor intimidated by such actions. In his message,the President said,"I am deeply dismayed and shocked at the wanton violence unleashed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh on a convoy of vehicles carrying leaders of the Congress Party." "I condemn this incident in the strongest of terms and would like to reiterate that violence has no place whatsoever in our democratic polity. The nation will neither be overawed nor intimidated by such action," he said. Mukherjee called upon the authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. While making it clear that the safety and security of the citizens should be ensured at all times,the President said,"I express my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the incident and offer my prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident." In a separate message,Vice President Hamid Ansari said there was no place in civilised societies for such senseless and barbaric acts. "All forms of extremism and violence have to be fought and eliminated from out midst," he said in his message. As many as 27 people were killed when Naxals attacked a convoy of Congress leaders at Dharbha Gati yesterday when they were returning from a rally. Chief Ministers,Governors and other leaders from across the country condemned the Maoist attack. "This is a moment of grief for every Congress worker and every law abiding citizen. We are sad but we will not give in to anti-social elements and strive on for development of the country and welfare of the people," Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said in his message. Tuki conveyed his heartfelt condolences,on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh to all those killed in the attack and prayed for early recovery of those injured. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said it is heinous and inhuman in a democracy to attack innocent people and leaders working for the people's welfare. Expressing grief,he extended his heartfelt condolences to family members of the Chattisgarh Congress president and others who lost their lives. Condemning the killings AICC secretary P Sudhakar Reddy said it is an attack on democracy. "This is an attack on democratic values. Law and order in Chhattisgarh has failed. The security provided to the Congress rally was poor. The Centre should consider imposing President's rule in Chhattisgarh," Reddy said. CPI's Andhra Pradesh secretary K Narayana said the government should stop treating naxalism as a law and order problem,but as a social issue to address the menace. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said,"Playing with the lives people is not good. I am totally against violence and killings and strongly condemn such incidents. I hope the central government will take serious action in the matter," Flaying the Chhatisgarh government for "intelligence failure",Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay,MP from Ranchi,said "The claims of BJP Government of containing Naxal violence in the state stands exposed." He also said Maoist-affected states like Chhattisgarh,Jharkhand and Odisha should make coordinated efforts to check Naxal violence. Condemning the brazen attack on his party leaders,Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that Congress has a history of sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the country. AAP leader Prashant Bhushan said,"The attack was against innocent people. We condemn the attack." Agreeing with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that the Maoists are a security threat,he questioned the political will of central and state governments to act against Maoism.
