R-Day celebrated in Bastar; no response to Naxal boycott

Amid tight security, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today unfurled the national flag in Naxal-hit Bastar district where a boycott call by the rebels for the Republic Day celebrations failed to evoke response.
Tight security is being maintained across Bastar as Naxals have put up posters and banners appealing to oppose US President Barrack Obama's visit and boycott the Republic Day celebrations in the region.
Barring few incidents of digging roads in the interiors and dropping pamphlets, no major incidents have been reported so far in Bastar, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence Wing) Deepanshu Kabra told PTI.
By and large the Republic Day was observed peacefully, he said.

Security was beefed up across the state, specially in Maoist-hit regions ahead of the R-Day celebrations.
Patrolling was intensified in the interior forest pockets and on inter-state borders to check suspicious movements, he said.

The Chief Minister hoisted the tricolour at Jagdalpur- Bastar district headquarters and took salute of the parade.
In his address, Singh said "the day is to express solidarity, integrity and patriotism towards the country's holy Constitution and democracy."
"With the new government at the Centre, efforts have been started with new strategies and new resolution to take on the menace of Naxalism. Plans are being chalked out for security along with development. Anti-constitutional elements will not be tolerated in any situation," he said.

Singh said that Lok Sewa Kendra (public service centres) will be set up in all tehsils and young entrepreneurs will be given an opportunity to run these centres.
Under Chhattisgarh Information Revolution scheme, students will be provided laptops and tablets this year too, he said.
To provide employment opportunities to unemployed youth of urban areas, the Chief Minister Urban Livelihood Mission will be started in 141 civic bodies, he said.
Besides, IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) and IIIT (Indian Institute of Information Technology) will start functioning in the state this year, Singh added.