The Congress today sought to turn the Maoist triggered hostage crisis in Bihar as a poll issue projecting the JD(U)-BJP government as "helpless spectator" in the kidnapping of policemen.
"I am disappointed. Can an elected chief minister say that he is helpless," AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters in New Delhi.
Singh's statement comes at a time when Rahul Gandhi is on a visit to the poll bound Bihar. Elections are scheduled to be held in the state in October-November.
Singh, who has been vocal on the strategy to counter the Maoists and was critical of home minister P Chidambaram's approach to the issue, said, "His (Nitish Kumar's) statement of helplessness is unbecoming of a CM," adding some way has to be found to end the hostage crisis.
The bullet-riddled body of Lucas Tete, one of the four abducted policemen, was found yesterday even as the Maoists today said the three other hostages with them were safe and called for talks as "time was running out".
The Maoists are demanding that eight of their arrested cadres be freed in exchange for the release of the hostages.
At Samastipur in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi said he prayed for well-being of the three policemen kidnapped by Maoist during a fierce encounter in Lakhisarai district.
"I pray for the policemen taken hostage by the Maoists from Lakhisarai. I also pray for the one who was killed (by the Maoists)," Gandhi told a rally.
