By IANS,
New Delhi : Activist Swami Agnivesh Thursday demanded the removal of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who was earlier the home minister, over the alleged killing of 19 “civilians” by security personnel in June in Chhattisgarh.
He alleged the victims were branded as Maoists and killed by the security personnel.
Agnivesh submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee, in which he demanded the removal of Chidambaram.
“It was a gruesome killing of 19 Adivasi people who had nothing to do with the insurgency. The mass killing took place under the joint operation command directly under then home minister P. Chidambaram and Chhattisgarh. Chidambaram must be sacked from the cabinet,” he told reporters.
Agnivesh said the fact that the victims were tribals and not Maoists was corroborated by the Congress in Chhattisgarh through an inquiry committee under a legislator.
“I have also demanded that the prime minister must apologies to the Adivasi community and an ex-gratia of Rs.25 lakh must be provided to family members of each of those killed,” he added.