BJP fans Ajit Jogi conspiracy theory: 'Must come clean'

At the receiving end of the Congress's initial conspiracy theory that alleged a BJP-Maoist nexus behind last week's attack in Chhattisgarh, the BJP now appears to be strategically taking cover behind fresh conspiracy theories — that point to internal squabbles in the Congress — to minismise the political fallout of the attack ahead of the assembly polls.

This was evident when the BJP declined to reject the allegation that former Chhattisgarh chief minister and senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi was involved in a conspiracy to eliminate the Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh. The allegation was levelled by BJP's Madhya Pradesh unit chief Narendra Tomar at a party meet in Gwalior Thursday.

"A lot of theories are floating around. There are questions that Jogi may want to answer. Conspiracy theories are coming out from the Congress stables," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said in response to queries regarding Tomar's allegations.

Not only did the BJP spokesperson avoid rejecting or distancing the party from Tomar's allegations, she, in fact, sought to suggest that Jogi's reported plan to file a defamation case against Tomar was an attempt to divert attention. "Diverting attention by defamation will not work. Where was Jogi? Why did he take a helicopter? It is fair that he should give submission to the (Judicial) Commission and answer himself," Sitharaman said.

This came a day after BJP general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh J P Nadda also stressed upon "circumstantial evidence" that triggered speculation of an alleged internal Congress conspiracy.

"There are talks about who was present and who was not (in Congress's convoy), who came first, who came late and who survived and who got caught (in the Maoist attack)... It is not appropriate for me to make a comment," Nadda said at a press conference here to highlight the "circumstantial evidence".