Chhattisgarh now Naxal free, eyes top tourism destination: Amit Shah

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said Chhattisgarh had entered a new phase of development after becoming Naxal-free, expressing confidence that the state would emerge among the country’s top three tourism destinations in the coming years, according to government agency.
Addressing the closing ceremony of Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav in Raipur, Shah congratulated the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Chhattisgarh Police for their role in eliminating Naxalism. He said the achievement fulfilled the long-standing resolve to make Chhattisgarh and the country free from Left-Wing Extremism.Recalling the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2000 under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah said Vajpayee had given the region a separate identity, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had supported its growth through development initiatives.He said a state that had witnessed years of violence and stalled development was now moving towards peace, prosperity and greater opportunities, particularly for its tribal communities.
Highlighting the Centre’s approach to tackling Naxalism, Shah said the government had encouraged armed cadres to surrender and return to the mainstream while taking firm action against those continuing to engage in violence. He alleged that Naxalism had deprived tribal communities of basic facilities, education and infrastructure for decades, with schools and roads among the public assets targeted by extremists.He said the Modi government was committed to ensuring that the rights and welfare of poor tribal communities received equal attention. Shah also highlighted rehabilitation measures for victims of Naxal violence, stating that artificial limbs had been provided to people who lost their limbs in bomb blasts over the past three decades.
Emphasising the importance of preserving the state's cultural heritage, Shah said the government was promoting traditional art forms and folk practices through initiatives such as Chhattisgarh Pandum and Bastar Olympics.He highlighted cultural traditions, including Panthi, Pandavani, Raut Nacha, Karma and Saila dances, along with Dhokra art, Bell Metal craft, woodcraft and Kosa silk. He also described the 75-day Bastar Dussehra celebrations as a distinctive cultural tradition that could attract visitors from across the country and abroad.
Shah said events such as Bastar Pandum and Bastar Olympics had encouraged the participation of lakhs of young people, helping revive indigenous sports, traditional attire, local cuisine, songs and dances.Reviewing the state's development progress, Shah said the government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, along with the two Deputy Chief Ministers, had fulfilled more than 70 per cent of the guarantees made to the people within a short period.He noted that the 33rd instalment under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana had been transferred to beneficiaries, while paddy procurement was underway. He also highlighted progress in agriculture, forest produce, animal husbandry and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
Underscoring Chhattisgarh's tourism potential, Shah identified Chitrakote Falls, Tirathgarh Falls, Kanger Valley National Park, Maa Bamleshwari Temple and Maa Danteshwari Temple as some of the state's major attractions. He said the natural beauty of Bastar, along with its cultural heritage and traditional festivals, could draw tourists from around the world.The Union Minister also highlighted the state's economic and educational progress, stating that its annual budget had increased 30-fold, per capita income 17-fold and Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) 25-fold.He added that the number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) had doubled, engineering colleges had tripled, while polytechnic institutions, colleges and universities had expanded six-fold. The state's literacy rate, he said, had risen from 65 per cent to 79 per cent.
Shah said the government's vision was to transform Chhattisgarh from a resource-rich but economically underdeveloped state into a prosperous region over the next decade.He expressed confidence that the state's development journey would take its people from fear to trust and from natural resources to prosperity, with a focus on building an inclusive and prosperous society.