“Bastar is moving away from fear and violence towards development and trust” – CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur (thestates.news)| Seventy-eight years after Independence, the tricolour finally fluttered proudly in villages of Bastar where, until now, the red flag of Naxalites had stood as the only symbol of power and fear. On Independence Day, the national flag was unfurled for the first time in 29 villages spread across Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma districts.
For decades, these villages lived under the barrel of guns and in the shadow of fear. The sight of the tricolour flying here was not merely a ceremonial act but a defining image of a changing Bastar. It reflected the sacrifices of security forces, the determined will of the government and the rising hopes of villagers, all of which together have paved the way for peace and development in areas once known as Naxal strongholds. The hoisting of the flag in these villages is living proof of a historic transformation made possible through the courage of security personnel, the resolve of both state and central governments, and above all, the patience and trust of the local people.
