Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah on February 8, 2026, addressed the national conclave in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, organised on the book ‘Chhattisgarh @ 25: Shifting the Lens’, published by Bharat Prakashan of the weekly magazine Organiser. The event was attended by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, and several other dignitaries. The conclave focused on the themes of security, prosperity and stability as Chhattisgarh completes 25 years of its formation.
Organiser’s Role in Ideological Journalism
Shri Amit Shah said that Organiser has consistently upheld the core idea of India in English journalism with fearlessness and clarity, presenting national issues with ideological conviction. He said the publication has made balanced and principled interventions in public discourse and has never hesitated to present ideas without fear, even when it was mocked, ignored or opposed.
He added that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has made significant contributions across all spheres of national and social life, a fact that no historian can deny, and that its volunteers have played a positive role in nation-building.
Small States and the Vajpayee Model
Recalling the formation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand during the tenure of Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shri Shah said the creation of smaller states was not an experiment but a fulfilment of people’s aspirations. He noted that these states were formed peacefully and without bitterness, unlike the later creation of Telangana, which led to prolonged disputes between the two states involved.
He emphasised that ideology plays a crucial role in governance, and political parties without a clear ideological foundation cannot effectively work for the welfare of the state or the nation.
India’s Global Role under PM Modi
Shri Amit Shah said it is now acknowledged across the world that India’s success under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead to global stability and prosperity. He added that India’s rise is being driven by a clear vision, strong governance and a development-oriented approach.
Chhattisgarh’s 25-Year Transformation
The Home Minister said that Chhattisgarh has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past 25 years. Once counted among the BIMARU and Naxalism-affected states, Chhattisgarh has now moved out of that category and is on the threshold of becoming a developed state, with Naxalism nearing complete elimination.
He said that while the state witnessed instability, violence and setbacks during periods of opposition rule, 15 years of stable governance under his party laid the foundation for development. He added that the subsequent opposition government saw scams, irregularities and corruption, and also provided patronage to Naxal elements, before a new phase of development began under the current government.
Strong Economic and Social Indicators
Highlighting the scale of progress, Shri Shah said that compared to 2000, Chhattisgarh’s budget in 2025 has increased 30-fold, per capita income has risen 17 times, and GSDP has grown 25-fold.
He noted that:
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Irrigation has doubled
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Kharif crop production has tripled and Rabi crop production has increased nearly six-fold
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District hospitals have increased from 7 to 30
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Medical colleges have grown from 1 to 16
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Anganwadi buildings have seen an 18-fold increase
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Malnutrition-related death rate has declined from 61 to 15
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Maternal mortality has reduced from 365 to 146 per lakh
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Infant mortality has fallen from 79 to 37
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Literacy rate has risen from 65% to 79%
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Eklavya residential schools have grown from zero to 75
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Children in hostels have increased threefold
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Rural road construction has increased 98 times
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Investment has recorded a 247-fold rise
He added that Chhattisgarh is now growing at nearly 7.5%, with 17% growth in agriculture, 48% in industry, and 35% in services, and has emerged as one of the leading states in tribal welfare.
Naxalism: An Ideological, Not Developmental, Problem
Shri Amit Shah rejected the argument that Naxalism is merely a result of underdevelopment or a law-and-order issue. He said that when the movement began, there were over 100 districts more underdeveloped than Bastar, yet Naxalism did not take root there. He stressed that the problem is ideological, rooted in Maoist thinking, which believes that issues can be resolved only through the gun.
He said that Bastar, rich in mineral wealth, would have been among the most prosperous regions of the country had it not suffered decades of Maoist violence. The Maoist movement, he said, stalled development for over four decades by pushing the idea of a so-called “Red Corridor” and by arming poor and uneducated tribal youth.
Constitution over the Gun
The Home Minister said that India’s Constitution stands for dialogue, discussion and resolution, not violence. He reiterated that the government’s objective is not to kill anyone, but to stop those who take up arms and kill innocents.
He said that 90% of the affected area has already been freed from Naxalism, and asserted that by March 31, 2026, the Maoist problem will be uprooted and eliminated from the country. He appealed to those who have taken up arms to surrender, assuring them that they would be welcomed and rehabilitated, and that a better life awaits them.
Rebuilding Bastar and Accelerating Development
Shri Shah said that schools and hospitals have been rebuilt, roads constructed, rail connectivity expanded, and that the Government of India is preparing to approve a scheme to irrigate seven lakh hectares of land. He said that those who supported “Red Terror” prevented development for decades, but today the region is witnessing a new phase of growth and stability.
Conclusion
Shri Amit Shah reaffirmed that the government is determined to free Chhattisgarh from Red Terror and to make it one of the leading states in the country. As Chhattisgarh completes 25 years, he said the state stands at a turning point—moving from conflict to confidence, from stagnation to growth, and from instability to security, prosperity and stability, guided by a development-first and constitutionally grounded approach.
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Source: PIB
