Kumar Bahukhandi
Union Home and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday May 19, 2026 presides over the Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. . The meeting is being attended by Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai; the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav; the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath; and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami along with senior officials from the member states and the Central Government-Photo Credit CG/PR
Key Factors
The Union Home Minister expressed his heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the historic occasion of the entire country becoming Naxal-free.
It is a matter of immense joy that this meeting is being held in Bastar, and—even prior to the meeting—the entire Bastar region has already become Naxal-free.
Adopting a “Whole of Government Approach,” all state governments and every department of the Central Government have worked to deliver development to the areas that have been liberated from Naxalism.
Our battle will not end until we bring the Naxal-free regions on par with the rest of the country in terms of development.
This entire region has not only become Naxal-free but also dispute-free; there are no pending disputes remaining—either amongst the states of the Central Zone themselves or between these states and the Centre—which constitutes a monumental achievement.
Under the leadership of Shri Modi, the meetings of the Zonal Councils have evolved into powerful platforms for finding solutions through dialogue; these meetings have gained continuity and have been made result-oriented.
Compared to the period of 2004–14, there has been an almost threefold increase in the number of Zonal Council meetings held, and a rise of over 200% has been recorded in the number of issues discussed.
The Union Home Minister called upon all Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and move forward in support of the Government of India’s battle against malnutrition.
Efforts must be made to reduce school dropout rates, improve the quality of education in schools, curb food adulteration, and ensure a 100% conviction rate in cases registered under the POCSO Act and in cases of rape.
High Courts should constitute special courts to ensure the speedy disposal of cases that have been pending in the courts for more than five years.
All four states should update their call centers for the ‘1930’ Cyber Security Helpline in accordance with the framework prescribed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Just as we have liberated the country from Naxalism, we must now achieve the goal—prior to 2029—of ensuring that every criminal case reaches its final conclusion (up to the Supreme Court level) within a timeframe of three years.
Raipur: Union Home and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday May 19, 2026 presided over the Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. . The meeting was attended Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai; the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav; the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath; and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami along with senior officials from the member states and the Central Government .
The meeting was organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat—operating under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs—and was hosted by the Government of Chhattisgarh.
Addressing the meeting, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said that it is a matter of great joy that this meeting is being held in Bastar, and that, prior to this very event, the entire region of Bastar has become Naxal-free.
He asserted that the entire credit for India becoming Naxal-free today goes to the hard work and bravery of the personnel of our security forces. Our agencies gathered intelligence with great precision and, in coordination with the police forces of all states and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), took timely decisions to initiate precise actions based on every piece of intelligence received. Furthermore, adopting a “Whole of Government Approach,” all state governments and various departments of the Central Government worked collectively to deliver development to the areas that have now been liberated from Naxal influence, Amit Shah remarked.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised that our battle is not yet over, as the Naxal-affected regions have lagged behind in the race for development for nearly five decades. He stated that our struggle will not cease until these regions are brought on par with the rest of the country in terms of development. On the occasion of the entire nation becoming Naxal-free, the Union Home Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi.
Union Home and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday May 19, 2026 presides over the Central Zonal Council meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. . The meeting is being attended by Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai; the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav; the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath; and the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami along with senior officials from the member states and the Central Government-Photo Credit CG/PR
The Union Home Minister noted that the Government of Chhattisgarh obtained everything it required for the fight against Naxalism by coordinating with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs; moreover, wherever leadership was needed, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister stepped forward to provide it—and it is precisely this collective effort that has resulted in Bastar becoming Naxal-free today.
Amit Shah remarked that, having resolved all contentious issues—both those between various states and those between the states and the Centre—we are conducting this meeting today in a constructive and positive atmosphere.
Shah added that all the agenda items discussed during today’s meeting were related to the monitoring of development initiatives. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, our federal structure has been strengthened, and meetings of the Zonal Councils are being held continuously. As a result, across a vast geographical expanse, there remain absolutely no disputes—neither among the four states themselves nor between these four states and the Centre—which constitutes a monumental achievement.
The Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation stated that the Central Zonal Council comprises the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This region encompasses everything from the northern Himalayan belt to the plains of the Ganges and Yamuna, extending to the plateau regions of Central India—areas that are rich in both forests and minerals—and is, therefore, of immense significance to the nation’s development. He noted that this region plays a pivotal role in replenishing the country’s grain reserves.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai presents a Image of Lord Rama to Union Home minister Amit Shah at the concluding ceremony of his 2 days visit to Chhattisgarh to chair the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Bastar-Photo Credit -CG/PR
The region’s abundant mineral wealth accelerates the pace of national development, while its rich heritage and culture have historically contributed to the nation’s progress. Furthermore, this very region serves as a convergence point for nearly all of the country’s major centers of faith and pilgrimage.
He highlighted that Chhattisgarh acts as a vital link connecting approximately seven states, underscoring the strategic importance of the entire Central Zone.
The Home Minister remarked that, as of today, this entire region has not only become free of Naxalite influence but has also been cleared of various inter-state disputes—a matter of great joy for us all.
Union Minister Amit Shah further stated that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, a robust and vibrant mechanism for Zonal Council meetings has been established; we have transformed this mechanism into one that is decisive, consistent, and results-oriented. In the ten-year period between 2004 and 2014, only 11 meetings of the Zonal Councils were held; this number has since surged to 32 meetings between 2014 and 2026. Similarly, while only 14 meetings of the Standing Committees were held during the initial ten-year span, this figure has increased two-and-a-half times during the subsequent period, reaching a total of 35 meetings.
He further noted that between 2004 and 2014, discussions were limited to just 569 issues; in contrast, between 2014 and 2026, discussions covered 1,729 issues—approximately 80% of which have been successfully resolved. Most of the remaining pending issues are administrative in nature, primarily requiring monitoring rather than involving any unresolved disputes.
The Union Home Minister emphasised that we must begin focusing immediately on “Jal Jeevan Mission-2” and ensure that arrangements are put in place to provide tap water connections to every household. He added that health, nutrition, and social welfare are highly sensitive and critical areas of concern. The Home Minister called upon all Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Government of India in its battle against malnutrition. He urged that greater efforts be directed toward improving school dropout rates and enhancing the quality of education within the sector. Financial inclusion and power sector reforms, he noted, could make a significant contribution toward transforming this developing region into a fully developed one.
Amit Shah emphasised the need to accelerate progress across four key areas: urban planning, public health, financial inclusion, and power sector reforms.
The Home Minister appealed that at least 50% of our focus should be directed toward rural development and schemes aimed at empowering individuals.
The Home Minister stated that ensuring the availability of banking facilities within a radius of every 5 kilometers is a major achievement; since all our welfare schemes are based on the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, it is imperative that all states make concrete efforts in this direction.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah observed that in cases involving the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and rape, a timely DNA analysis could potentially lead to a 100% conviction rate. Shah further suggested that High Courts should constitute special courts to ensure the speedy disposal of cases that have been pending in the courts for over five years.
He asserted that the administration must demonstrate such seriousness when dealing with heinous crimes. He urged the Chief Ministers of the four states to implement a state-level helpline framework—modeled after the Union Home Ministry’s template—using the 1930 helpline number, and to upgrade their respective state helpline call centers, Shah stressed.
Amit Shah noted that whenever a case regarding food adulteration is registered and a penalty is imposed, provisions should be made to publicise this information. He noted that such publicity would alert the public to the specific shops where adulterated products are being sold.
The Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation remarked that the implementation of the three new criminal justice codes has proceeded very well. However, he added that there remain several issues within this framework where greater emphasis must be placed on effective implementation. The Home Minister declared that, just as the nation has been liberated from the scourge of Naxalism, we must now achieve the goal—by 2029—of ensuring that every criminal trial is brought to its logical conclusion, right up to the Supreme Court level, within a timeframe of three years.
