Union Min. credits Shri Modi Government’s Whole-of-Government Approach for ending Naxalism and boosting development
Zonal Council Meetings triple since 2014; Shri Shah calls for faster disposal of criminal cases by 2029
Raipur, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. The meeting was attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, along with senior officials from the member states and the Government of India. The meeting was organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Union Home Ministry and hosted by the Government of Chhattisgarh.
Addressing the meeting, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said it was a matter of immense pleasure and that the region had become free from Naxalism even before the meeting. He credited the achievement to the bravery of security forces, precise intelligence inputs by agencies, coordinated action by state police forces and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and the Whole of Government Approach adopted by State Governments and Central Government departments to accelerate development in Naxal-affected areas.
Shri Amit Shah said the fight is not over yet, as Naxal-affected regions still needed to catch up in development after decades of neglect. He said efforts would continue until these areas matched the rest of the country’s progress, and congratulated Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the country becoming free from Naxalism.
He said the Chhattisgarh Government received full support from the Union Home Ministry in the anti-Naxal campaign, while the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister provided strong leadership that helped make Bastar Naxal-free.
Shri Amit Shah said the resolution of pending disputes among states and between the states and the Centre had helped create a positive atmosphere for the meeting. He noted that the discussions were focused entirely on monitoring development-related issues. Citing the regular conduct of Zonal Council meetings under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Shah said the process had strengthened cooperative federalism and enabled the settlement of disputes among the four states and Centre-state issues across the region.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister said the Central Zonal Council includes Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. From the Himalayan region in the north to the plains of the Ganga-Yamuna and the plateau, forest-rich and mineral-rich regions of central India, this area plays a vital role in the country’s development. He said the region contributes significantly to the nation’s food reserves, while its rich mineral resources accelerate national development. The rich heritage and culture of the region have also contributed to the country’s progress. Most of the country’s major centres of faith are also located in this region. He added that Chhattisgarh connects nearly seven states, making the entire central region strategically important. The region had now become not only free from Naxalism but also free from disputes, which was a matter of great satisfaction for everyone, he added.
