Chhattisgarh's new Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has said his government does not endorse the view that industrialisation and mining should not take place, insisting these activities are crucial for development and employment generation in the state as he expressed confidence about eliminating Naxalism.
Mr. Sai, a prominent tribal leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who took oath on December 13, maintained his government will take appropriate steps after analysing advantages and disadvantages of mining activities in regards with the state's bio-diversity rich Surguja region, which has witnessed protests by adivasis against coal mining at many places in the last several years.
In an interview to PTI, the CM said Naxalites have become frustrated after change of guard in Chhattisgarh and asserted the "double engine" government (a term used to mean BJP in power in the state and at the Centre) will fight against the menace resolutely and eliminate it.
