Vijay Sharma Criticizes Congress VP Nominee
Vijay Sharma links Salwa Judum ruling to Naxal surge.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma launched a fierce critique of the Congress-led alliance’s vice presidential candidate, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, blaming his 2011 Supreme Court ruling against the Salwa Judum movement for a surge in Naxal violence in Bastar. Speaking at a lecture on “Overcoming the Naxal Challenge in Chhattisgarh” hosted by Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini in Pune on Friday, Sharma claimed the decision left Bastar “terrified,” with Naxals unleashing a wave of killings, maiming, and strangulations that victimized thousands.
Sharma described Salwa Judum, meaning “restoration of peace,” as a grassroots movement initiated by Bastar villagers to counter Naxal atrocities without initial government involvement. He explained that locals established self-defense camps, later supported by the state, which appointed some members as Special Police Officers. However, Justice Reddy’s 2011 verdict declared the movement unconstitutional, labeling it a parallel system and ordering its disbandment. Sharma argued the ruling lacked legal rigor and ignored the voices of Bastar’s affected communities, who were never heard in court.
“The people of Bastar still remember Justice Reddy’s name and question how such a person can be a vice-presidential nominee,” Sharma said, highlighting local resentment. He accused the Congress of endorsing a figure whose judgment allegedly emboldened Naxals, intensifying violence in the region. Sharma emphasized that the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government is committed to eradicating armed Naxalism by March 2026, as pledged by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and ensuring the Indian Constitution’s reach across Bastar.
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Sharma rejected claims that Naxals fight for rights, asserting they follow a Maoist ideology that thrives on terror. He outlined the state’s efforts to reintegrate Naxal members into mainstream society while strengthening security measures. The controversy surrounding Reddy’s nomination has sparked debate, with critics arguing it reflects poorly on the Congress-led alliance’s judgment, while supporters of Reddy defend the ruling as upholding constitutional principles. As the vice-presidential race heats up, Sharma’s remarks underscore the deep political and ideological divides shaping India’s approach to the Naxal challenge.
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