Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the people of Gadchiroli are not standing with the Naxalites but with India

Gadchiroli: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that because of the region’s tremendous improvement, the people of Gadchiroli today embrace India and her Constitution rather than the Naxals. The Deputy CM also thanked the local villagers’ cooperation and the police’s efforts against Naxalites for this change.

“There is a change as a result of the cooperation of the locals and the battle our police waged against the Naxalites… Today, Pengunda also saw the opening of a new outpost. In a Maoist-dominated region, the government and police are now evident. The residents of Gadchiroli came up to declare their support for India and its Constitution rather than the Naxals, according to Fadnavis.

The government’s continued emphasis on security and development in Gadchiroli, an area that was once beset by Naxalite violence, is shown by Fadnavis’ visit.

Fadnavis, during his visit, announced the launch of the first bus service in 77 years, which would link Aheri and Gardewada. “A bus service between Aheri and Gardewada began operating today. After 77 years, this is the first time a bus service has begun,” he remarked.

In 2019, Fadnavis laid the foundation stone for a mining factory, which he also inaugurated. He stressed that the project would provide jobs for 50,000 people. “We are trying to give employment to 50,000 people,” he said.

An important milestone was the surrender of 11 Naxalites in Gadchiroli, including Vimla Chandra Sidam alias Tarakka, who had a Rs 1 crore reward. During the surrender, Fadnavis was there. At the Gadchiroli Police Headquarters, the 11 Naxalites—eight women and three men—turned themselves in. The Chhattisgarh government also announced rewards on them, and they had more than Rs 1 crore in bounties on their heads.

Tarakka Sidam, Bhupati’s wife and the leader of the Dandakaranya Zonal Committee, who had been active in Naxalism for 34 years, was one of the people who turned themselves in. Three members of the division committee, one deputy commander, and two members of the area committee were among the Naxalites who turned themselves up. A financial assistance package totaling Rs 86 lakh was given to each of them to help them with their new life.

Fadnavis said he was certain that the state will soon be free of naxalism.

Fadnavis also paid a visit to Gadchiroli’s Pengunda Police Help Center. “This area of Gadchiroli, where we are standing, did not even have a road, and the Maoists had complete dominance here,” CM Fadnavis said in an interview with ANI, highlighting the region’s development. We have erected two large posts, a road, and a bridge that connects directly to Chhattisgarh today, putting a stop to that supremacy.”

“In a sense, the people here will get to see the state transport bus after 75 years,” he said. As a result, I think that today is very significant. We had previously said that Gadchiroli will be the first district of Maharashtra rather than the last, and we have already begun that process. There is now no recruiting, thus the Maoists are unable to locate new members here. It is coming to an end because large cadres are giving up.

The Gatta-Gardewada-Vangeturi road, the Tadguda Bridge, and the bus service from Aheri to Gardewada in the Naxal-affected region are just a few of the important infrastructure projects that Fadnavis also officially opened. He engaged with the residents and police jawans throughout his tour.