Maoists wanted to foment civil war, kill PM: Fadnavis

Speaking out for the first time, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the Maoists had a sinister design to foment civil war in India besides assassinating Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Its a conspiracy against the nation," Fadnavis told reporters after the Supreme Court refused to intervene on the arrest of five human rights activists and civil right defenders by the Pune Police in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima case.

"We have enough evidence against them (the five who are in house arrest)...we have forensic evidence, we have corroborative evidence...I am sure, we would secure the conviction in the case," said Fadnavis, who also holds the Home, Law and Judiciary portfolios.

"(During the course of the investigation) we have found material evidence against them...in the past Maoists have got scot free...in fact, the Supreme Court has appreciated the investigation (by Pune Police)," he said.

Fadnavis, however, sought to stress on three key points. "Firstly, there was no political conspiracy behind the arrests. Secondly, it was not done to curb the voice of dissent and thirdly, there was no bias or prejudice against them," he said, adding that the designs of CPI (Maoist) and their support base in urban areas stood exposed.

According to Fadnavis, the Pune Police presented all evidence before the Supreme Court. "The police will now be tendering the evidence before the appropriate court," he said, adding that the investigations have proved the links of the arrested accused have with "banned organisations".

"They had conspired to assassinate prime minister (Narendra Modi)...they were attempting to foment civil war in India...its nothing but a conspiracy against the nation," he said, adding: "They are enemies of the country".

Asked about the political support that the five arrested Maoist supporters have received, the chief minister said that those supporting them politically will stand exposed.

When the Supreme Court's observations on the police press conference were pointed out, Fadnavis said: "We have not gone through the full order."

However, Fadnavis said that the press conference was convened to dispel the allegations that they were all arrested without evidence.