Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs 26th Central Zone Council meeting in Chhattisgarh's Bastar
Bastar, May 19
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired the high-profile 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region.
The meeting served as a critical platform to deliberate on various regional-level issues of common interest, aiming to foster deeper inter-state collaboration and strengthen the framework of cooperative federalism.
Reinforcing the framework of cooperative federalism, the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh converged in the historic Bastar region to participate in the high-profile 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council on Tuesday.
Underscoring the high strategic importance of the council meeting, the session was attended by top-tier central officials, including Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Deka. Their presence facilitated a comprehensive review of regional security frameworks, left-wing extremism mitigation, and national-state intelligence sharing protocols alongside the ongoing development agendas.
Senior officers from the member states, including Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police (DGPs), were also part of the extensive deliberations to ensure seamless coordination between the state and central administrative machinery.
Earlier on May 18, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 'Bastar Ke Sang' folk cultural programme at the Bastar Academy of Dance, Art and Literature (BADAL) in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur.
The Home Minister was accompanied by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
The event, 'Bastar Ke Sang', aimed at showcasing and preserving the rich cultural heritage, traditional dance forms, and tribal art of the Bastar region.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Bastar region is Naxal-free, saying that when a target was set at a meeting in January 2024, many felt it was not possible to achieve it.
Addressing the gathering in the Jagdalpur area of Bastar, Amit Shah said the goal has been achieved with the hard work of security forces.
"Today, we have finally arrived at the day when Bastar is Naxal-free. On January 21, 2024, we decided in a closed room to end Naxalism by March 31, 2026. We made this announcement in August 2024. At the time, many said it was not possible and that such decisions are not taken in closed rooms. Now, we have achieved our goal," he said.
"There are several innocent tribal people here whose kin were brutally killed by Naxals. DRG and CoBRA fought with Naxals with great valour", he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While the security achievements are commendable, I worry about the tribal communities in Bastar. Are we ensuring their rights and development aren't sidelined in the name of anti-Naxal operations? Need more transparency.
Cooperative federalism in action! When CMs from different parties come together, it shows India's strength. The 'Bastar Ke Sang' event is a nice touch - culture and governance go hand in hand. 👏
Interesting to see the Central Zone Council meeting in Bastar. The claim of being 'Naxal-free' is significant if true. Hope the development dividends reach the local Adivasi communities soon.
I'm from Chhattisgarh and have seen the change firsthand. The security forces have done tremendous work. But we also need jobs and schools for the youth. Let's not just celebrate the military victory, but build a lasting peace.
The presence of IB Director and top officials shows this is taken seriously. With three BJP-ruled states plus Chhattisgarh, coordination should be smoother. Let's hope this translates to real development in Bastar. 😊
Very proud moment for our security forces. DRG and CoBRA have sacrificed so much. But the real test is
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