A video clip featuring Supriya Shrinate, a prominent figure within the Congress party, has set ablaze a political firestorm after she referred to the slain Maoists in a recent encounter as “martyrs.” The video, which swiftly went viral on social media platforms, captured Shrinate expressing sympathy towards the 29 Naxals who were gunned down during an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker region.

In the wake of this footage surfacing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on the Congress, condemning Shrinate’s remarks. The Chhattisgarh BJP unit, in a statement, accused Shrinate of belittling the sacrifices made by both the people of Chhattisgarh and the security forces, who have long battled against Naxal insurgency in the region.

“Shehzad Poonawala, a prominent BJP leader, expressed disbelief at the Congress’s stance, labeling it ‘expected but unthinkable.’ Poonawala emphasized the valor displayed by security personnel during the operation, which resulted in the elimination of 29 Naxals. He underscored the significance of this achievement and criticized the Congress for undermining the bravery of the security forces,” the statement read.

The encounter, hailed as one of the largest operations against Naxal insurgents in Chhattisgarh, witnessed the deaths of 29 Maoists, including a significant number of women who were armed and actively defending the male cadres. During the confrontation, three security personnel sustained injuries, including two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans and one member of the state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG).