Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: Hours after the crucial issue of ‘jal, jangal, jameen’ rights of the adivasi community was flagged in the platform of RSS in Nagpur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, during his day-long visit to once-naxalite-affected Gadchiroli district, said that development will have a human face.
“We are doing development in Gadchiroli with a multi-pronged strategy…firstly, we are enhancing the security environment, secondly, we are boosting development, thirdly, we are bringing in industries and companies, fourthly, generating employment for locals, and, finally, we are taking care of the ‘jal, jangal, jameen’ rights of the people,” Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister, said on Friday.
The statement of Fadnavis comes hours after Chhattisgarh-based veteran tribal leader Arvind Netam, who is a former Congressman and ex-union minister having served the governments of Indira Gandhi and P V Narasimha Rao, flagged the issue of ‘jal, jangal, jameen’ - citing example of Bastar - in presence of RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur, on Thursday evening.
Besides, he had also expressed concern over The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act - popularly called PESA - being “shattered” by the state governments while the Centre has turned blind eye to it.
During the day in Gadchiroli, where he is also the guardian minister, Fadnavis attended a series of events.
Fadnavis adored traditional headgear when he interacted with locals at the Kawande outpost along the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh border along with Gadchiroli’s co-guardian minister Ashish Jaiswal, Gadchiroli’s Director Collector Avishyant Panda, District Superintendent of Police Nilotpal and Assistant District Collector Naman Goyal.
At the district police headquarters, he also felicitated the officers and personnel of Gadchiroli police, C-60 commando team of Anti-Naxalite Operations and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Besides, 12 Maoists, who had decided to join the mainstream, surrendered before the police in presence of the CM.
“We have removed the security vacuum…we have established our dominance,” said Fadnavis. “During 2024-28, 28 Naxalites have been neutralised, 31 have been arrested while 44 have been surrendered,” he said, noting that the deadline to eliminate the menace of Maoism by 31 March 2026, would be realised.
Fadnavis also blessed 12 surrendered Naxal couples during a massive wedding ceremony. “They once carried weapons…now they will start families,” he said.