Raipur: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday declared Chhattisgarh free of Naxalism and congratulated the state’s people—particularly its tribal communities—as well as the Central Armed Police Forces and Chhattisgarh Police.
Addressing the closing ceremony of Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav in Raipur, Shah said the achievement marked the fulfilment of a long-standing resolve to make both Chhattisgarh and India free of Naxalism. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma and other dignitaries were present.
Shah credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with creating Chhattisgarh in 2000 and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had guided its development. He described the state’s progress as a continuation of Vajpayee’s legacy and said the government’s next priority was to build a developed and prosperous Chhattisgarh.
The Home Minister said the state’s tribal communities had suffered greatly from Naxalite violence. He contrasted the region’s potential as a cultural corridor with the impact of conflict, saying children who should have been studying had been forced to take up arms and schools had been destroyed. He asked those who advocate for Naxalites in the name of human rights to recognise the rights of tribal people affected by violence and obstructed development.
Shah said the Union government had provided artificial limbs to people who lost their hands or legs in Naxalite attacks, helping them regain mobility and independence. He also invited commentators who write about tackling Naxalism to visit the region and see the situation and development efforts for themselves.
He defended the government’s approach to armed groups, saying those willing to surrender had been urged to lay down their weapons and rejoin the mainstream. According to Shah, 90 per cent of Naxalites surrendered while 10 per cent were killed. He said those who obey the law would be treated as ordinary citizens, while security forces would act firmly against those who continued to violate it.
Shah also accused the opposition of supporting Naxalites and their parallel governing structures, including the “Janatana Sarkar.” He criticised the opposition over its conduct in Parliament and said the government was ready to discuss every issue. He challenged the opposition to allow Parliament to function so that people could assess the arguments for themselves.
The Home Minister said the Chhattisgarh government had fulfilled more than 70 per cent of the guarantees made by Prime Minister Modi. He cited the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, ongoing paddy procurement and progress in agriculture, forest produce, animal husbandry and micro, small and medium enterprises.
Shah said the state had the potential to become one of India’s top three tourism destinations, pointing to Chitrakote and Tirathgarh waterfalls, Kanger Valley National Park, the temples of Bamleshwari and Danteshwari, and Bastar Dussehra. He also announced plans to plant five lakh Peepal trees in Naya Raipur, with the aim of developing it as a “Peepal City” and what he described as the world’s largest eco-friendly city.
Recalling the view that Chhattisgarh’s land was rich while its people remained poor, Shah said both would become prosperous over the next decade. He cited growth in the state budget, per capita income, GSDP, educational institutions and literacy, and said the government aimed to lead Chhattisgarh from fear to trust and from natural resources to broad-based prosperity.
He also praised state initiatives to promote cultural traditions, including Chhattisgarh Pandum, Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum, saying they helped preserve local arts, folk dances, cuisine and sporting traditions.
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