"Development of Maoist affected areas is our priority," says Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that development of Maoist affected areas is one of the priorities of the NDA government, and praised the Chhattisgarh Government for working towards achieving this goal.

"To ensure internal security of the country is the responsibility of the Home Ministry, and we will do it. One of our priorities is that development should take place in the Maoist affected areas...The development has reached these areas, but more needs to be done. There are a lot of problems involved in developing Maoist areas, and the Chhattisgarh Government is doing that. They must be praised for it," Singh told media here after inaugurating a newly constructed building of Chhattisgarh Police headquarters.

The Home Minister is currently on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. On Saturday, he met several state officials and discussed with them issues related to development, connectivity of roads and mobile networks, anti-Maoist operations and security issues related to Maoist-dominant regions.

On Sunday, he is expected to visit Jagdalpur, Sukma, Bhejji, Dantewada and Dornapal areas of the state.