"Blockade has been done in such a way that Naxals are not daring to commit any incident": Chhatisgarh CM Baghel

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], October 21 : Ahead of the forthcoming assembly elections scheduled for November 7 and 17, Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday elaborated on how the Congress has done development works in order to mitigate the menace of Naxalism.
"With the generation of employment opportunities, development works, and people turning prosperous, naxals are not getting hands to execute incidents," said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
"Blockade has been done in such a way that they (naxals) are not daring to commit any incident. Earlier, the situation was not like this; incidents (naxal incidents) took place frequently. We have opened camps (of security forces) and ensured the active presence of (security personnel) that pushed them on the back foot," said the Chief Minister while speaking to ANI in Raipur.
Highlighting the work done by the incumbent government, CM Baghel claimed that roads and bridges have been constructed, people have become prosperous, education institutions have opened, and employment opportunities have been generated.
"People are busy with their work, family, and development; therefore, naxals are not getting hands, and if they do not get hands, then how will they execute the incident?" added Baghel.
Sometime back, the Union Home Minister had come to Sukma and visited a camp at Potakpalli where the school and Public Distribution System (PDS) outlet have been operational, said the CM, who further added that Shah had seen everything.
"In Chhattisgarh, there was a time when delivering rations to camps of security forces was a challenging task and news in itself, but now the situation has changed significantly," said Baghel, adding that common people have now received the ration card, job card, and Aadhaar.
"Earlier, ensuring ration to security forces (deployed in insurgency-hit areas) was difficult, but now everyone is getting the ration, even the common people," said the CM.
He further elaborated that a major transformation witnessed in the region was the successful completion of panchayat elections, which were held for the first time, and no one hoisted the black flag on Independence Day. Around 300 schools restarted in the region, and the fresh example is that the election commission has shifted the polling centres, which were earlier established near roads, to interior villages. Polling booths established in restive villages are evidence of success.
Commenting on the religious conversion, CM Baghel said that recently, the Home Minister was in Chhattisgarh, but he did not say a single word regarding the religious conversion.
The Chhattisgarh Minister of Commerce and Industries, Kawasi Lakhma, had challenged that if a single case of conversion is proven, he will tender his resignation. Lakhma made this challenge around two months ago, and the BJP has yet to do anything.
"They should accept the challenge from our minister and take action. They couldn't do anything, and it proves that they are only engaged in political stunts, said Baghel.
He further said that the opposition in Chhattisgarh lacks issues and has no vision for the development of Bastar and its people.
Speaking about the ticket distribution in the saffron party, Baghel said that the BJP is not contesting the election, but instead Raman Singh is. The entire game has been set up in such a way that ticket distribution took place according to Raman Singh's will.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh CM reiterated that Congress will again come to power in the state as the lives of people witnessed the transformation and the incumbent government did what people wanted.
"Even at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chhattisgarh government was working in the interest of the people when the government at the centre was busy beating plates and lighting candles," said Baghel, adding that the state government ensured free rations, their treatment, and oxygen.
Moreover, he said that the Chhattisgarh government worked for the people coming here from other states. "People did not forget the work done by the state government during the crisis," he said.
He also accused the central government of stalling funds for the state.
They are making allegations of corruption to the tune of Rs 1360 crore in Gauthan, said the CM, adding that we have purchased cow dung worth around Rs 271 crore and made payment of Rs 300 crore for vermicompost and the entire payment has been carried out through online mode
So given the total amount of Rs 571 crore, how could corruption of Rs 1360 crore happen?
They just want to make allegations and defame the government, said the CM, adding that they are making unsuccessful bids to shorten the line.