BJP should join Maoists: Congress

Advertisement campaigns by non governmental organisation Friends of Good Governance (FOGG) have not been taken in good taste by the Congress here that linked them to the BJP and advised them to join the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency.

The Naxalite-Maoist insurgency, an ongoing conflict between Maoist groups, known as Naxalites or Naxals, and the Indian government has been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the "single biggest internal security challenge" ever faced by India.

Saying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should join the rebel movement that has cost thousands of lives, the Congress accused party of indulging in surrogate ad campaigns against their party leaders.

"They (BJP) should join the Naxalite groups for attacking Congress using another forum. They are scared of attacking Congress in open," Congress' chief spokesperson Shantaram Naik told reporters on Thursday.

FOGG has installed large hoardings across the streets at several places. It has been giving its ads to local dailies depicting involvement of politicians in corrupt practices.

The NGO is likely to face an inquiry as the Congress has complained against the former to the Election Commission of India for violating the election code.

FOGG has also been advertising through online social networking sites like Facebook.

"We are a group of people who are politically neutral, and pose faith only in strong leadership that can deliver. We are a group of people troubled by rampant corruption and abuse of power," FOGG says on its Facebook page.

The campaigns by FOGG come ahead of Assembly elections in Goa set for March 3 where the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat-led Congress-NCP alliance is challenged by the BJP.

(Reporting by John Edwards)