RAIPUR: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that effective steps taken by the Central government have succeeded in curbing the left wing extremism (LWE) menace across the country.
The problem is now limited to a few districts including some parts of Chhattisgarh, he said.
"Had Chhattisgarh government cooperated with the Centre, Maoist problem of the state would have been solved," the defence minister stated while addressing a massive public meeting at Narhardev School Ground in north Bastar’s Kanker district on Saturday.
Rajnath took a dig at the Congress government saying that it was a patronizing force for religious conversion in the state and said that this practice should be stopped at any cost. If needed, the Central government will provide support, he said.
Congress has resorted to trial and error method by appointing senior Congress leader T S Singhdeo as deputy chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Rajnath said, adding, this experiment cannot save the party in the assembly elections as people have already decided to show them the door.
Going down the memory lane, Rajnath said that the people of Chhattisgarh were struggling with Congress’ misrule in 2003 when he was made the BJP in-charge. People elected Raman Singh as their chief minister who scripted a new chapter as far as development story of the state is concerned.
"Many may differ in my opinion, but I can claim Raman Singh transformed Chhattisgarh into a developing state. The situation of 2003 is back again in the state under this Congress government," Rajnath said.
People of Chhattisgarh had believed in some promises made by Congress in its manifesto in 2018, but now they repent their mistake after experiencing the consequences of electing the Congress government.
Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has taken the state on the back foot despite adequate support from the Central government, he said.
"Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee formed Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for the development of tribals. The Congress ruled for 79 years but had never thought about the tribals", said the Union defence miniter, adding, "Chhattisgarh was formed for the development of tribal people. Jharkhand was also created with this thought. The BJP government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee created a separate mantralaya for tribal people."
"Has anyone thought that a tribal woman was made President? This was made possible by the Modi government", Rajnath said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a separate 90,000 crore budget for the tribal community, he said.
"Tribal people were actively involved in the fight against British rule", Rajnath said, adding: "We are introducing their contribution to the work world. I bow before Gundadhur, the tribal leader who bravely fought against Britishers."
Tribal people's contribution was never highlighted because after independence people those came to rule had their personal agenda, he said.
Rajnath also met Padma Shri Ajay Mandavi who has changed the lives of more than 350 people by making them self-dependent.
Congress had promised to ban liquor but now they are doing its home delivery now, he said.
Rajnath said that India's status on international level has increased manifold unlike a decade ago. Even the USA has not been able to provide Corona vaccines to all of its citizens and to mention here the USA has a population of 30 to 32 crore. On the other hand, India provided vaccines free of cost to its 140 crore people.
"We have also supplied Covid vaccines to 120 nations." He said.
Rajnath warned the neighbouring countries indulging in promoting cross border terrorism and said, "Do not try to play with India. We will not only hit you here but if required we will hit at your home."
He mentioned about USA President Joe Biden seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's autograph and said such is the statue of the Prime Minister.
Rajnath also spoke about halting of Ukraine war for four and a half hours for the evacuation of Indian students and it was possible because of Prime Minister Modi’s call to Russian counterpart Putin.
"In nine years of the Modi government, not even a single corruption charge was levelled against our government," he said.
