Raipur, May 19 (IANS). Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a press conference held in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh on Tuesday that Bastar is now completely free from the fear of Naxalism and now a new chapter of development is going to start here. He said that now enthusiasm, confidence and hope for the future is clearly visible on the faces of the people of Bastar. The era of living under the shadow of the gun is over and the whole of Bastar is now breathing freely.
In his address, the Home Minister detailed the campaign against Naxalism and the subsequent development plan by mentioning four important dates. He said that the first important date was 13 December 2023, when the BJP government was formed in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Vishnu Dev Sai. Home Minister Shah said that earlier also there was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government at the Centre, but due to the Congress government in the state, the expected cooperation against Naxalism was not received. He claimed that many non-BJP governments cooperated with the Centre, but the Congress government did not support the campaign.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that after the formation of the BJP government in the state, a fresh campaign was started to eliminate the remaining Naxalism in Bastar. Describing the second important date as 24th August 2024, he said that after the meeting of DGs of all the states on that day, it was announced that the country will be freed from the terror of Naxalism by 31st March 2026. He said that due to the bravery, courage and sacrifice of the security forces, Naxalism was completely eliminated from the country by 31st March 2026, even before the scheduled deadline.
The Home Minister said that the fourth and most important date is 19 May 2026, because from this day the concept of complete development in Naxal affected areas is being launched. He said that for years some intellectuals kept saying that Naxalism spread due to lack of development, whereas the truth was that it was because of Naxalism that development could not reach these areas.
Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Central Government has now started work on new schemes for the development of Bastar. He informed that recently “Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera” has been inaugurated. This scheme is an initiative to convert those security camps, which were created to fight Naxalism, into development centres. He said that the Home Ministry had set up about 200 security camps in Naxal-affected areas, where CAPF, DRG and Chhattisgarh Police personnel were deployed. Now after the end of Naxalism, 70 of these camps will be converted into “Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera”.
Home Minister Shah said that through these service camps, one cow and one buffalo will be provided to every tribal family of Bastar. Their milk will be marketed across the country through the cooperative model, which will increase the income of tribal families and make the region economically stronger. He said that there will no longer be fear in Bastar, but a new story of development, employment and prosperity will be written.
–-IANS
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