Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hailed Odisha for always supporting the Central government in the ongoing battle against left-wing extremism (LWE).
The Home Minister, who arrived in Bhubaneswar on Friday night on a two-day Odisha visit, also praised the state for setting a new benchmark in disaster management.
Shah, who inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) projects in the state together with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, also reviewed issues relating to LWE and disaster management.
Noting that there has been 30 per cent decline in the number of naxal incidents from 2015 to 2019, the Union Home Minister said there has also been 32 per cent decrease in encounters, and 56 per cent drop in death of security personnel.
“I thank Odisha government and Naveen babu for extending cooperation to us to curb naxalism,” Shah said.
The naxal menace has been controlled and there has been a drop in left-wing extremism. “Odisha government has always supported us to combat naxals,” the Home Minister said.
This apart, Odisha has also adopted new methods and leading the country in disaster management. Disasters can also be defeated if the Centre and states work together, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given utmost priority to disaster management and the Odisha government has worked alongside centre to ensure zero casualty during disaster, said Shah.
Stressing that the Prime Minister has always given special focus to the holistic development of eastern part of the country, especially Odisha, the Home Minister said a lot of work has been done by the Centre for strengthening infrastructure in the state.
Naveen Patnaik, on his part, thanked the BJP-led NDA government for focusing on the state’s development.
Notably, Shah along with Naveen inaugurated 51 kilometre-long 4-lane stretch on National Highway 53 connecting Kamkhyanagar and Duburi, at Loka Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
He also laid the foundation stone for the widening and strengthening of Moter to Baneer via Ladugaon road of Kalahandi district.
