New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai spoke about how his government is fearlessly taking stringent measures to combat Maoism and corruption and ensuring that the state treads on the path of development. Sai, spoke candidly at the event titled ‘Panchjanya’s Dialogue on Good Governance’ which was held on July 18.
While interacting with the editor of Panchajanya, Hitesh Shankar, Sai stated that one of the biggest challenges that was in front of him when he took oath as the chief minister of the state was to win the confidence of the people. He added that within a span of seven months, his government has been able to do so. Sai added that the previous Congress-led government indulged in massive corruption and failed to take any concrete steps to develop the state and root out Maoism.
During the interaction, Sai stated that owing to rampant corruption that was prevalent during the previous regime of the Congress-led government in the state, people ousted it from the power and presently we have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
पिछली कांग्रेस सरकार ने प्रदेश में जमकर भ्रष्टाचार किया, जिसके कारण प्रदेश की जनता ने उसे सरकार से आउट कर दिया। हमारी सरकार बनते ही हमने घोटालों के खिलाफ लगातार कार्रवाई करना जारी रखा है। भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ हम जीरो टॉलरेंस की नीति से काम कर रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/25wy6jlBo3
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) July 18, 2024
Sai added that his government is working towards finishing Maoism and the state’s deputy CM Vijay Sharma is relentlessly working towards it. Moreover, since the union government is led by BJP and in the state also they have their government, therefore adequate measures are implemented in a coordinated manner. The impact of the steps that are being taken by the government can be seen as presently, 33 security camps have been set up and all kinds of facilities are being provided to the villages which fall within the ambit of these camps. Sai opined,”There are five villages that are still facing the brunt of Maoism and soon 29 more security camps will be set.”
छत्तीसगढ़ में जब से डबल इंजन की सरकार बनी है। नक्सलवाद के खिलाफ हम दमदारी से लड़ाई लड़ रहे हैं।
बस्तर संभाग के केवल 5 जिलों में नक्सलवाद की समस्या है, जहां हमने 33 सुरक्षा कैंप खोले हैं और आने वाले समय में 29 नए सुरक्षा कैंप खोले जाएंगे। ये सुरक्षा कैंप लोगों के लिए सुविधा कैंप… pic.twitter.com/p7PW5gIVId
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) July 18, 2024
Vishnu Deo Sai, clearly stated that all possible steps are being taken to ensure that all the villages are well connected by road, they are able to get electricity, health centres are being built and people are also being provided with the ration card. Chhattisgarh CM Sai stated that all steps are being taken to ensure that Bastar which is known to be the hotbed of Maoist activities, regains its lost glory.
Highlighting some of the important decisions, which his government took soon after coming to power, Sai said, “in the first cabinet meeting held on December 13, approval was granted for housing projects benefitting 1.8 million poor citizens who had been left out by the previous administration.”
He further added that in a move to honour the legacy of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose birth anniversary was celebrated on December 25, the government announced the disbursement of Rs 3,716 crore to farmers as pending bonuses under the Modi Guarantee scheme. This payment was made at one go and it was aimed to provide much-needed financial relief to the agricultural community.
The state government has also made significant strides in supporting rice farmers. They facilitated the purchase of paddy at the rate of 21 quintals per acre. Furthermore, the government compensated farmers with an additional Rs 13,320 crore to cover the difference between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and market rates, ensuring fair earnings for their produce.
The Chief Minister also launched the Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana, a new initiative to promote religious tourism and cultural heritage. Additionally, efforts to support families involved in the collection of tendu leaves, often referred to as ‘green gold,’ were intensified. The government increased the standard rate to Rs 5,500 per unit, benefiting approximately 1.25 million families engaged in this trade.
In a pointed remark, the Chief Minister contrasted the swift and decisive actions of the current administration with the previous government. He mentioned that while critics may not fully grasp the significance of these initiatives, the people of Chhattisgarh recognize and appreciate the “swaying” progress being made under the BJP government.
Meanwhile, earlier, Deputy CM of Chhattisgarh and state’s home minister Vijay Sharma after inaugurating the event, categorically said that the government was ready to hold the talks with the Maoists without any condition. During the course of intercation at the event titled ‘Panchjanya Dialogue on Good Governance,’ Sharma said that their aim is to finish Maosim from the state in the next three years. He further said that he has launched a google form to seek suggestions and added that he was ready to talk to the Maoists over the phone or do video call as well so as to address their concerns.
On the issue of the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the state, Sharma said that the state government will implement it without any fear. Sharma added that their government in the state would deal with an iron hand with the foreign powers who are trying to disrupt the peace and harmony in the state.
नई दिल्ली में @epanchjanya द्वारा आयोजित छत्तीसगढ़ सुशासन संवाद कार्यक्रम में शामिल हुआ। pic.twitter.com/rUNN69DKSh
— Vijay sharma (@vijaysharmacg) July 18, 2024
Chhattisgarh’s Finance Minister OP Chaudhary minced no words to describe the previous government led by Bhupesh Baghel and added that it worked like an ATM for the Gandhi family. Exposing the corruption that was prevalent under the Baghel government, Chaudhary said,”The previous Congress government in the state had established mafia raj in all speheres including that in recruitmnet policy, liquor mafia, corruption in the recruitment of state public services exam etc. There is coal mafia, mininig mafia as well as another mafia that is involved in urea scam.”
The stage for the day long event was set in the first session of Panchjanya’s Dialogue on Good Governance wherein senior journalist Prakhar Srivastav stated, “It is important to bring forth the root cause of Maoism.” He added that as compared to terrorism, more people have been killed in Maoist related attacks. Srivastav lauded Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh’s government for working relentlessly to combat the Maoist activities in the state, the result of which is evident now. He said that in the last few months, a large number of Maoists have surrendered also and have expressed their willingness to join the mainstream. This is evident from the fact that at least 800 Maoists have surrendered in the last six months while at least 100 have been killed in encounter with the security forces.
Another speaker at the event, Bhuvan Ribhu stated that the biggest victims of the Maoist activities are children and women. He stated that the minor girls are sold by their parents to outsiders so that they do not become part of the Maoist gang. Also, there are at least ten thousand or more cases where women and children have become physically challenged as they have either lost their hand or leg in the IED blast that was undertaken by the Maoists.
He spoke about the issue of child marriage and added that Chhattisgarh ranks better as compared to the national average which is 23 per cent and that of the state is 12 per cent.
Meanwhile, Harshvardhan Tripathi spoke about Urban Naxalism and stressed on the need to root it out. He added that it is very important to combat this ideology that has penetrated into the system and gets active whenever there are talks to finish Maosim in the country.
Overall the event of Panchajanya brought to fore that the image about Chhattisgarh that is created in the circles of Delhi is not appropriate. The state is now witnessing development and all possible steps are being taken to finish Maoism.
