The Hindu : Other States / Chattisgarh News : Give up arms, Vajpayee tells naxals

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Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

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Give up arms, Vajpayee tells naxals

By Lalit Shastri

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is welcomed with a traditional tribal headgear by the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Raman Singh, at the fourth foundation day celebration of the State in Raipur on Monday. Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

RAIPUR NOV. 2. The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, yesterday said peace is essential for development and asked the misguided elements to leave the path of destruction and join the national mainstream to work for the cause of the all-round progress of Chhattsigarh and the country.

Mr. Vajpayee's obvious reference to the naxalites came during his speech at a State-level function here to celebrate the fourth Foundation Day of Chhattisgarh. He said though the State has taken rapid strides on the path of development a lot more needs to be done to create more employment avenues for the youth. The State Government will have to pay special attention to this, he added. Mr. Vajpayee said we now have a global economy and there is plenty of competition. To ensure that no one is left behind, we need progress and for this purpose there has to be an atmosphere of peace, he asserted.

Without directly naming the naxalites, the former Prime Minister said the misguided youngsters should return to the national mainstream. He said Chhattisgarh is known for its valiant sons of the soil and those who made great sacrifices for the larger cause of the people. The State is also richly endowed with natural and forest wealth, he said while emphasizing that Chief Minister Raman Singh is working hard for the State's progress.

Mr. Vajpayee said small States are bound to progress fast. More than 40 per cent of Chhattisgarh's total area comes under forest cover and these forests could not have continued to exist without the tribals and the forest-dwellers playing a significant role to ensure their protection. He said the forest-dwellers should be given settlement rights. A case in this regard is now pending in Supreme Court, he said adding that the interests of human beings should get the maximum priority. On his part Mr. Raman Singh gave Mr. Vajpayee the full credit for the creation of Chhattisgarh. He gave an account of several schemes introduced by his Government for the welfare of the farmers and weaker sections.

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