The commitment shown by our brave police officers in eliminating the “Lal Salaam” is truly extraordinary. They voluntarily asked for postings in Naxal-affected regions, set their own targets, and achieved them.
-Madhya Pradesh chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav
Bhopal: Having completed two years in office Madhya Pradesh chief minister Dr Mohan Yadav termed, what he said, naxalism eradication in the state as a major achievement in his short tenure so far.
“Within just two years, Madhya Pradesh has become completely free from Naxalism—a problem that persisted for decades. This has removed a major obstacle from the state’s path of progress”, said the chief minister addressing a press conference at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre here on Friday.
He said in the MMC zone (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) as many as 42 Naxalites surrendered within 42 days, choosing to join the mainstream and embrace a life of development.
“The commitment shown by our brave police officers in eliminating the “Lal Salaam” is truly extraordinary. They voluntarily asked for postings in Naxal-affected regions, set their own targets, and achieved them”, added the CM.
CM was flanked by his deputies in the cabinet- deputy chief ministers Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda, state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal, state BJP media in charge Ashish Agrawal, principal secretary in CM secretariat Neeraj Mandloi and commissioner, Public Relations Deepak Saxena.
CM said naxal activities in the state began around 1988–90. There was a time when police buses were set on fire, and even a minister was killed by Naxalites, while both the central and state governments were under the Congress.
Today, we take pride in the fact that under the guidance of the central government, the state government has completely eliminated Naxalism from Madhya Pradesh within the set deadline. After 35 years, Madhya Pradesh has become fully Naxal-free, claimed the CM.
He said some brave personnel also sacrificed their lives in this campaign. Inspector Ashish Sharma was martyred last year after receiving a promotion. With the surrender of two Naxalites yesterday, the number of Naxalites in Madhya Pradesh has now become zero.
“The state government has prepared a rehabilitation plan for surrendered Naxalites. In the past 42 days, 42 Naxalites have surrendered, and 10 have been neutralized. We will develop a system that will ensure that the Naxalite movement can never re-establish itself. The state government has coordinated effectively with all neighbouring states”, he said.
CM said government tried to work in every sector. The performance of all departments over the past two years and their targets for the upcoming three years were reviewed and discussed.
He said all the ministers presented reports of their respective departments.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “We are moving forward with a commitment to development and service. The current global situation and emerging opportunities are also becoming increasingly favourable for us.”
CM said the national river-linking projects were being successfully implemented in the state. After the Ken–Betwa and PKC projects, the state was moving rapidly towards the Tapti Mega Groundwater Recharge Project.
He said under the Ken–Betwa project, a new sub-project named Mandakini–Chitrakoot had been prepared. This would ensure adequate water availability around Chitrakoot Dham and also facilitate electricity generation.
He said under the river-linking initiative, the government aimed at irrigating more than 10 million hectares of agricultural land in the next five years.
He said earlier, during the Simhastha in Ujjain devotees had to take the holy dip in the waters of the Gambhir River. In 2016, arrangements were made for devotees to take the holy dip in the waters of the Narmada. For the upcoming 2028 Simhastha, a new project worth ₹800 crore had been prepared. Now devotees would get waters of the Kshipra River.
CM said earlier, no GIS (Global Investors Summit) used to be held in Bhopal. But for the first time, the Global Investors Summit (GIS) was organized in Bhopal this February—an event that was unprecedented.
Significant investment, he said, also came through the regional industrial conclaves.
As a result, he added, a steel plant was now being established in a small district like Niwari. Fertilizer production was taking place in Jhabua. In Neemuch, not only India’s but the world’s largest pump-storage project was completed within just two years.
He said among the seven PM MITRA Parks approved in the country, the first park was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday at Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. The state government has also allocated land for it.
Pharma companies, he said, had started production by setting up industries in Vikram Udyogpuri.
Under the New Education Policy, 55 PM Excellence Colleges had been opened. The number of medical colleges in the state was continuously increasing—there were now a total of 52 medical colleges, both government and private combined. The state government was providing land on a Re 1 lease under the PPP model to expand medical colleges and healthcare facilities.
CM underlined a number of other achievements during his tenure so far which, he said, would form a solid foundation for a tremendous development of the state in the coming years.
