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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated,...

Gadchiroli SP declares Maoist menace ‘almost over’

Mumbai: In a resounding statement signalling a historic shift, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) Neelotpal has declared the district, once the dark heart of the ‘Red Corridor,’ is on the verge of becoming completely free of the Naxal menace. The SP expressed absolute confidence in the complete eradication of the banned CPI (Maoist) presence, noting that the remaining cadres have dwindled to a mere handful. “There has been a sea change in the situation,” SP Neelotpal stated, highlighting the dramatic turnaround. He revealed that from approximately 100 Maoist cadres on record in January 2024, the number has plummeted to barely 10 individuals whose movements are now confined to a very small pocket of the Bhamragad sub-division in South Gadchiroli, near the Chhattisgarh border. “North Gadchiroli is now free of Maoism. The Maoists have to surrender and join the mainstream or face police action... there is no other option.” The SP attributes this success to a meticulously executed multi-pronged strategy encompassing intensified anti-Maoist operations, a robust Civic Action Programme, and the effective utilisation of Maharashtra’s attractive surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. The Gadchiroli Police, especially the elite C-60 commandos, have achieved significant operational milestones. In the last three years alone, they have neutralised 43 hardcore Maoists and achieved a 100 per cent success rate in operations without police casualties for nearly five years. SP Neelotpal highlighted that the security forces have aggressively moved to close the “security vacuum,” which was once an estimated 3,000 square kilometres of unpoliced territory used by Maoists for training and transit. The establishment of eight new police camps/Forward Operating Bases (FoBs) since January 2023, including in the remote Abujhmad foothills, has been crucial in securing these areas permanently. Winning Hearts, Minds The Civic Action Programme has been deemed a “game changer” by the SP. Through schemes like ‘Police Dadalora Khidaki’ and ‘Project Udaan’, the police have transformed remote outposts into service delivery centres, providing essential government services and employment opportunities. This sustained outreach has successfully countered Maoist propaganda and, most critically, resulted in zero Maoist recruitment from Gadchiroli for the last few years. Surrender Wave The state’s progressive rehabilitation policy has seen a massive influx of surrenders. “One sentiment is common among all the surrendered cadres: that the movement has ended, it has lost public support, and without public support, no movement can sustain,” the SP noted. The surrender of key figures, notably that of Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias ‘Bhupathi,’ a CPI (Maoist) Politburo member, and his wife Sangeeta, was a “landmark development” that triggered a surrender wave. Since June 2024, over 126 Maoists have surrendered. The rehabilitation program offers land, housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and employment. Surrendered cadres are receiving skill training and are successfully transitioning into normal life, with around 70 already employed in the local Lloyds plant. A District Reborn The transformation of Gadchiroli is now moving beyond security concerns. With the decline of extremism, the district is rapidly moving towards development and normalcy. The implementation of development schemes, round-the-clock electricity, water supply, mobile towers, and new infrastructure like roads and bridges is being given top priority. He concludes that the police’s focus is now shifting from an anti-Maoist offensive to routine law-and-order policing, addressing new challenges like industrialisation, theft, and traffic management. With the Maoist movement in “complete disarray” and major strongholds like the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone collapsing, the SP is highly optimistic. Gadchiroli is not just getting rid of the Naxal menace; it is embracing its future as a developing, peaceful district, well on track to meet the central government’s goal of eradicating Naxalism by March 31, 2026.

New govt formation delayed as Sena insists on CM post for Shinde

Updated: Nov 29, 2024

Shinde

Mumbai: The formation of a new government in Maharashtra, which appeared likely immediately after the BJP-led coalition won a thumping majority in the assembly elections, is delayed due to Shiv Sena's insistence that Eknath Shinde continue as the chief minister, sources said on Monday.


After the November 20 elections results were out on Saturday, there was talk that the new CM may be sworn in as early as Monday but that has not happened, apparently due to the ruling Mahayuti not reaching a consensus on who will be the next CM, the sources said.


Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske cited the Bihar model to assert that Shinde should continue as the chief minister.


However, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar batted for Devendra Fadnavis for the CM's post, saying the deputy chief minister is the most capable candidate to lead the state.


"We feel Shinde should be the chief minister, just like in Bihar where BJP did not look at the numbers but still made JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar the CM. Senior leaders of the Mahayuti (in Maharashtra) will ultimately take a decision," Mhaske told reporters on Monday.


"The election in Maharashtra was contested under the leadership of Shinde, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. This shows that the alliance's leadership should be respected," he said.


BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve said the party would soon hold a meeting of its legislators.


"The NCP chose Ajit Pawar (as its leader in the assembly), and so has Shiv Sena (chosen Shinde as its leader). The BJP will soon call a meeting of its legislators. It is obvious that the BJP wants the CM's post," Danve said.

The final decision would be communicated to the central leadership after the party's internal discussions, he added.


Fadnavis on Saturday denied any dispute over the CM's post, saying leaders of the Mahayuti will decide on the issue together.


Meanwhile, a legislature official dismissed reports that the President's Rule may come into force if a new government is not in place by November 26, when the tenure of the14th state assembly ends.


In fact, with the officials of the Election Commission of India submitting copies of the gazette with names of the newly-elected members of the state legislative assembly to Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Sunday, the 15th assembly is already in place, an official said.


As per Section 73 of the Representation of the People Act about the publication of results of the state assembly, “after submission of the notification of the names of the members elected, it shall be deemed that the House has been duly constituted,” the official said.


Show of strength to consolidate claim

ree

By Swapnil R Mishra


Mumbai: The suspense over who will take charge as the chief minister of Maharashtra is likely to be over soon, as chances of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis being replaced by current CM Eknath Shinde, while Ajit Pawar continues to be DCM.


However, this decision has been taken positively by the CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena factions stating that the scheme, which Shinde has hailed as his ‘brainchild’, is being credited as a key factor behind the alliance's electoral success.


On Monday, beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana gathered at the Chief Minister's Varsha bungalow in Mumbai, performing aarti and expressing their support for Shinde to continue as the state's leader.

The show of solidarity continues, with hundreds of patients who benefited from the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund set to offer mass prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai.


Additionally, posters have emerged across Mumbai and Thane, portraying Shinde as the face of the victorious Mahayuti, under whose leadership the alliance triumphed in the polls.


However, sources are claiming that Shinde who was hoping to be retained as CM is likely to be made the deputy CM along with Pawar. While Shinde was negotiating with the BJP over the last 36 hours, a source said the Sena might land up with around 12 ministerial berths and be given some key portfolios. The NCP is also said to end up with around 10 ministerial berths.


The maximum permissible limit for the Council of Ministers in Maharashtra is 43, including the CM. The BJP, which has 132 MLAs, is likely to keep 21 ministerial berths for itself.


The source said the top four portfolios of Home, Finance, Urban Development and Revenue that the BJP was keen on retaining would now be shared with the alliance partners. The BJP may insist on home and finance, according to the BJP insiders. However, some last-minute negotiations on the number of ministerial berths and portfolios were continuing, according to sources.


Meanwhile, pressure within the BJP to restore Devendra Fadnavis as Chief Minister is intensifying. Party workers credit the BJP's impressive showing in the elections-where the alliance secured 235 seats-to Fadnavis's organisational prowess.


However, Fadnavis’ Brahmin identity could also be a factor in deciding the CM face. In this case, he could lose to Maratha leader Shinde. While Marathas comprise 30 per cent of the state’s population, Brahmins account for around 10 per cent.


“Shinde has emerged as a good leaders in the last 2.5 years and also a decision maker due to which he is reluctant to leave the CM post, arguing that his continuance in the top job could benefit Mahayuti in the upcoming local body polls, including the key Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections,” said sources.


Even if the BJP goes ahead with Fadnavis as the CM face, upsetting Shiv Sena, the party has the mandate to do so. It only needs the support of one of its allies to form the government.

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