Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday tried to clear the air on people’s perceptions regarding Naxalism in the state. “There is a mentality around the country that there is Naxalism and as soon as someone arrives at Raipur airport, they expect to hear gunshots. I want to take up this issue and say that is not the situation today,” CM Sai said at the Investors Connect meet held in Ahmedabad.
Speaking on the issue, CM Sai said that the threat poses many challenges to the state but the Centre’s strategy will see it eliminated before the set target date. He said, “Our government has completed 22 months. In January 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a review meeting on Naxalism. We realized that 77% of Naxalism is concentrated in Chhattisgarh and the other 33% is in 6-7 neighboring states. It was a big challenge for our state as progress in Chhattisgarh was halted due to Naxalism, but the Prime Minister and Home Minister – both from Gujarat – pledged to end Naxalism, so We have drawn up a strategy in which the top Maoists will be neutralised. The target of eliminating Naxalism is March 31, 2026, but we see it happening much before that.
When asked about the rehabilitation of Naxalites, CM Sai said: “Our Home Minister has introduced a new rehabilitation policy after studying models in other states. When they surrender, they get money as well as skills for jobs, that’s why more than 2,000 people have surrendered. From Bastar and Dantewada, we see locals and surrendered Naxals coming to the police.”
To stop any possible resurgence of criminal behavior by Naxalites, CM Sai said, “To stop recidivism, we have a policy in the local language, which translates to ‘Aapka sundar gaon’ (your beautiful village). Through this, 327 villages have been liberated and security is being provided to them. The security cordon of Suraksha Kendras for these villages has been extended from 5 to 10 km. We are working to bring government schemes, construction of roads, water pipelines, ration cards, provision of electricity and communications.” It’s getting better. The scope of progress is increasing.
At the meeting held at a hotel in the city, Chhattisgarh received investment proposals worth Rs 33,321 crore, expecting to create more than 10,532 new job opportunities.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Sai said, “We have formulated the industrial development policy because investors are used to facing problems of moving from one office to another. For anyone who invests Rs 1,000 crore or creates 1,000 jobs, he is given additional subsidies. Within 10 months, we have received investment pledges of Rs 7.5 lakh crore, of which Rs 3.5 lakh crore is in the power sector alone. In Ahmedabad, we have received investment pledges of around Rs 33,321 crore.” Memorandums of understanding were signed today with eight companies.
“The largest amount came from the investment proposal of Rs 22,900 crore from Torrent Power Ltd to set up a 1,600 MW thermal power plant generating 5,000 employment opportunities,” a statement issued by the Chhattisgarh government said. Lyceum Life Sciences Pvt Ltd, Ahmedabad, has proposed an investment of Rs 101 crore in pharmaceutical products and medical nutritional supplements, Torrent Pharmaceutical Ltd, Ahmedabad, plans to invest Rs 200 crore in a pharma unit and Onix-Three Enersol Private Ltd, Rajkot, has proposed an investment of Rs 9,000 crore in electrolyser, green hydrogen, green ammonia and green steel manufacturing plant.
(tags for translation) Chhattisgarh CM at Investors Meet
