Days before Union Home Minister Amit Shah's scheduled arrival in Bastar for the 26th Central Zonal Council meeting, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a high-level review meeting on Friday to assess preparations for the high-profile event. The meeting is being seen as a major symbolic moment for the once Maoist-hit region.
Meeting Details and Participants
The Central Zonal Council meeting will be held in Bastar on May 19 under Shah's chairmanship. It will bring together the chief ministers of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, along with senior officials from the participating states and the central government. Shah is expected to arrive in Raipur on the evening of May 17, stay overnight, and attend a series of events and meetings in Raipur and Jagdalpur on May 18. On May 19, he will chair the central zonal council meeting and hold a press briefing before departing for Delhi.
Review Meeting Highlights
During the review meeting held at Mahanadi Bhawan, officials presented agenda points proposed by the Chhattisgarh government and briefed the chief minister on logistics, coordination, accommodation, and security arrangements. Chief Minister Sai directed officials to ensure there were no lapses in preparations and emphasized that all arrangements should be made with seriousness and coordination.
Significance of the Event
The meeting assumes significance as it is being held in Bastar, a region long identified with Left Wing Extremism. This comes at a time when the state government is aggressively pitching a post-Naxal development narrative for the tribal belt. The Central Zonal Council is one of the country's regional councils formed to promote inter-state cooperation and coordination on governance and development-related matters.
The successful organization of this meeting in Bastar is expected to send a strong message about the improving security situation and the government's commitment to development in areas previously affected by insurgency. The event underscores the shift from conflict to development in the region.
