“Few people want to have their benefit”: Chhattisgarh Dy CM Vijay Sharma on split of ideologies among Naxals

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 11 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma claimed that there is a split of ideology among the Naxals, with one group wanting development and the other seeking personal benefits.

Vijay Sharma said, “There is a split (of ideologies) among the Naxals. One group is those who want development. They are not happy with naxal activities. The government has assured them that it will support them. The reason for this split is that few people want to have their benefit. They do not care about the region but the locals are concerned about the area.”

Earlier, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and discussed in detail issues related to agriculture and rural development, mainly Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana in naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, and exemption from the Aadhar-based payment system (ABPS) for naxal-affected regions under MGNREGA.

Expressing the need for rehabilitation of surrendered naxals and affected families in naxal-affected areas, Sai requested the inclusion of 10,500 new eligible families in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and also demanded approval of housing construction for the Panchayats in naxal-affected areas.

The chief minister urged for exemption in the Aadhaar-based Payment System (ABPS) under the MNREGA scheme till March 31, 2025, as there is a lack of internet facilities and other problems in remote and naxal-affected areas. He also demanded to allow cash payments in these areas, as banking facilities are not available there.

He informed about the approval process for 106 large bridges under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Nyay Maha Abhiyan and also demanded the construction of 426 remaining bridges for Chhattisgarh. He said that the construction of these bridges under this scheme is important because it will improve the road connectivity of tribal areas and will also help in the naxalism eradication campaign.