"Chhattisgarh has become free from Naxalism under the Modi government. The state is now entering a golden era of development and good governance," Shah said.
Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shah recalled that Chhattisgarh was carved out as a separate state in 2000 under his leadership. He said development in the region had remained stalled at the time, adding that Vajpayee created the state while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had worked to transform it.
"Development in this region had come to a standstill at that time. Atal Ji created this state, and Prime Minister Modi has worked to transform it," he said.
Congratulating the people of Chhattisgarh and the tribal community on the state's transition away from Naxalism, Shah said the state was now moving forward on the path of development.
He said Naxalites had turned the land of Chhattisgarh into a stronghold of violence, preventing the region from being recognised for its cultural heritage and development. Shah recalled that forests, which should have echoed with folk songs and the sounds of mahua and tendu leaf collection, had instead been filled with landmines.
He said children were handed guns instead of books, schools were blown up with bombs, and people involved in building roads for development were attacked.
The Home Minister described November 3 as a day of pride, achievement and resolve for Chhattisgarh. Explaining the significance of the occasion, he said the pride was rooted in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's legacy, the achievement was a Naxal-free Chhattisgarh, and the resolve was to fulfil the vision of a developed state under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
Shah's address placed the state's emergence from Naxalism and its development ambitions at the centre of the Rajyotsav closing ceremony, while highlighting the contributions of the leaders involved in Chhattisgarh's formation and transformation
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