Opposition questions Lok Sabha debate on left-wing extremism; tags jobs crisis, ‘Hindu extremism’ and tribal issues

New Delhi: Opposition parties on Monday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for arranging a discussion on left-wing extremism (LWE) in the Lok Sabha, asking why the Modi government did not discuss issues such as war in West Asia, “extremism” in the name of Hindutva, rising unemployment and atrocities against Dalits and vulnerable groups in Parliament. Many speakers warned that supporting corporate mining of mineral resources in tribal areas could stoke local resentment, which, along with mining, has been at the root of the Naxal problem.Congress MP Saputgiri Ulaka said the BJP has not lost any member in the Maoist violence, just like it has not lost anyone in the freedom struggle. He said the Congress government had fought against Naxalites and had lost members, just like the entire Chhattisgarh party hierarchy in the Jairam Ghati massacre. He claimed the March 31 deadline appeared to be linked to some corporate interests, a point also raised by many other opposition MPs.