Development will go on: Ramesh

Development and political activities are having a positive impact on the ground,which has made the Maoists jittery,leading them to carry out such attacks, he said. The Congress has been very active on the ground and there has been a determined effort by the party in the last two years to expand its presence. He cited the examples of improved performance of schemes such as NREGA.

Ramesh,who was in Bijapur in a public meeting on Thursday with some of the Congress leaders killed,said the barbaric attack was an attempt by Naxalites to destroy democracy in the garb of fighting for tribals development. I was there with these leaders two days ago. I did not anticipate,expect or imagine such a massacre would take place, Ramesh said.

He refused to comment whether there was a security lapse by the BJP government but said there was a need to refrain from politicising the issue. He agreed the attack was a grievous blow to the party in the state and its resilience would be tested.

Ramesh said this was no time to talk to those who had attempted to wipe out the entire local leadership of a major national party. He added,however,that across-the-table discussions can never be ruled out altogether. The minister,who cut short his trip to MP,also said there was a need to focus extensively on the 25-odd districts most severely affected by Naxalism.