Vikasit Chhattisgarh within reach as anti-Naxal operations gain ground: Chief Minister

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said the State would move towards Vikasit Chhattisgarh as the ongoing Centre-led anti-Naxal operations were likely to soon wipe out Maoists from the region.

Speaking at a public meeting after unveiling the statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Gorakshanapet in Rajamahendravaram, Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai said Chhattisgarh continued to suffer backwardness despite being rich in forests and mineral resources due to Left Wing Extremism. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their commitment and support in eliminating Maoist violence.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries B. Srinivasa Varma and BJP Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav, unveiled the bronze statue as part of the commemorative programme.

Referring to Andhra Pradesh–Chhattisgarh relations, Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai said the Raipur–Visakhapatnam six-lane expressway would reduce travel time by about five hours between Raipur and Visakhapatnam. The expressway is under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

He said the administrative capital of Chhattisgarh had been named Atal Nagar as a mark of respect to Vajpayee, who was instrumental in the creation of the State. He added that the government had decided to name 100 parks across Chhattisgarh after Vajpayee on December 25 and ensure that every town had at least one street named after him. Recalling Vajpayee’s legacy, Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai said the former Prime Minister had created a unique Ministry for Tribal Welfare.

Mr. Srinivasa Varma, Mr. Madhav and other BJP leaders said Vajpayee’s belief that Andhera chhatega, suraj niklega, kamal khilega would continue to inspire the party.

Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav, Minister for Tourism and Culture Kandula Durgesh, Rajamahendravaram MP D. Purandeswari, city MLA Adireddy Srinivas and other leaders participated in a bike rally taken out as part of the Atal–Modi Suparipalana Yatra in the city.