JAGDALPUR, October 23 (Aalimi Nation) – President Droupadi Murmu said on Friday that Chhattisgarh has been freed from the menace of Naxalism through the combined efforts of the Central and state governments, and that the state is now moving ahead on a path of progress.
She was speaking at the Bastar Dussehra Festival 2026 at Lalbag Maidan in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Bastar district, during a two-day visit to the state. Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai also addressed the programme, and several state ministers were present.
Credit to both governments
The President praised the Central and state governments for their joint work and said the region was now focused on development. She said the state was leaving behind the pain of Naxal violence. Official accounts of her remarks did not mention any figures or specific security operations.
Her remarks in Jagdalpur followed comments she made a day earlier in Raipur, the state capital, where she had also spoken of former Maoists joining the mainstream.
Tribal youth and entrepreneurs
Ms Murmu expressed confidence that tribal youth would take an active part in the country's journey towards becoming a developed nation. She welcomed efforts to give tribal entrepreneurs financial support and to connect them with markets, saying such steps would help build a developed India by 2047 through equitable development.
Protecting forests
The President urged people to protect the forests and hills of their region, noting that they provide food, water and other essentials. She said safeguarding nature is the primary responsibility of a community. She described trees and plants as "living gods" and appealed to people to plant trees on farmland, barren land and open spaces.
She also spoke about the cultural links of Bastar, which is also known as Dandakaranya. She said the region is associated with the exile of Lord Ram, and suggested that forest-dwelling tribal communities had a role in the defeat of Ravana.
Muria Darbar and temple visit
Earlier in the day, the President visited the Maa Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur and offered prayers following traditional rituals. She then attended the Muria Darbar at Sirhasar Bhavan, where she met tribal leaders, priests and community representatives, including Manjhis and Chalkis, and heard their concerns.
Ms Murmu described the traditional Muria Darbar as reflecting democratic values, where people present their concerns and grievances to their leaders.
At Lalbag Maidan she toured stalls set up to showcase the Bastar Dussehra festival and interacted with local school children.
The President's declaration was a statement of the government's position at a public event; independent assessments or official data on the security situation in the region were not part of her address.
No separate response from other political parties to her remarks had been reported at the time of writing.
