Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong point in focusing for development in Maoist-hit Dantewada which is a mineral-rich region in Chhattisgarh and pledged to fight for peace. There were reports that the Maoists are holding hostages of around 500 villagers who were on their way to the Prime Minister's rally. Modi said at the rally, "I am sure that humanity exists in them and they will change." "Violence has no future, but peace," he said. He is in the state to sign two memoranda of understanding (MoU) for a mega steel plant and for the second phase of the Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line.
"Maoists oppose construction of bridges or roads, as they oppose all developmental work," former home secretary RK Singh said. Prime Minister Modi, stressed for growth and spread of education in his brief speech. "Development must reach the poor. Jobs for the youth are at the core of our policies. People know that employment is of prime importance. They can build a house, educate their children, etc, only if they are employed." He lauded, the chief minister Raman Singh and took a dig at the previous Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. "Under the previous government, the only news in the paper was that of scams. We have been in power for a year, have there been such news?"
The Prime Minister Modi's agenda was to sign an MoU for setting up of the ultra-mega steel plant at Dilmili village which will help the state attract a direct investment of Rs 18,000 crore and employ 10,000 people. The second MoU is related to the second phase of a 140 KM railway-link between Rowghat and Jagdalpur to connect Bastar with important cities Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg. This link will also help for easy and cheap transportation of iron-ore for industries.
Both the projects are expected to help in the socioeconomic transformation of Bastar. An MoU for the second phase of Rowghat-Jagdalpur line which was signed earlier was shelved due to lack of funds.
Modi has also visited the education city built for providing education to the under-privileged children and he interacted with the students. Education city is spread across 100 acres which costs around Rs 120 crore that can provide residential and classroom facilities for around 5,000 students. Modi is the first Prime Minister after Rajiv Gandhi to visit the region.
By Premji
