PM urges Naxals to shun violence in Chhattisgarh: As it happened

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited Naxal-affected Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh to take stock of socio-economic development initiatives being taken there.

Raipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Saturday, visited Naxal-affected Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh to take stock of socio-economic development initiatives being taken there. 

• Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh confirms that more than 300 people have been held hostage by Naxals. "The local authorities are working on the issue as of now".
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh says he agrees with the PM that problem of Naxalism can be resolved only by mutual dialogue.

  I tender my soulful gratitude to PM @narendramodi on his visit to CG & agree, only by mutual dialogue, we can resolve problem of naxalism.

  — Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) May 9, 2015

• On PM Modi's visit, BJP leader Sambit Patra says: "It is a historic day. A PM has gone to a Naxal-affected area like Dantewada and given a message of peace". 
• Chhattisgarh has the power to change the future of India: PM
• Taking a dig at Congress, Modi says those who could not digest victory in 60 years cannot also accept defeat. "Those who have been disregarded by the people in elections are spreading canards about the government's work. Last year when I visited this region, papers were full of stories of corruption. We have changed that. No such news has appeared in the last one year. We have shown government can be run with honesty."  
• Fruits of development must reach the poorest of the poor with employment for the youth is at the priority of government policies: PM
• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh has already given pen and computer in the hands of children whose families were eliminated by bombs and bullets: PM
• The Prime Minister asks the ultras to shun the gun for a few days and visit the families affected by their violence. "This experiment will force you to change your heart and make you shun your violent means."
• The birth place of Naxal movement Naxalbari has already given up this violent means. Don't get disheartened. The macabre drama of death will end: PM on Naxalism
• Only plough on the shoulders and not guns can bring development. And this will bring everyone to the mainstream of the country. There is no future for violence. The future is only of peaceful means: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Perhaps it is for the first time that in a programme like this MoUs worth Rs 24,000 crore have been signed. This rail link will connect you to the mainland and mainstream of India...Send iron out and get steel from outside. This would go on but now this has to stop. We will make steel from the iron ore: PM 
• The land of Bastar has shown a way of life to the world, says Modi, the first Prime Minister to visit this Maoist hotbed in three decades​.
• I am very happy to have got the chance to come and meet you all, says the PM.
• After Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, the PM begins addressing a public meeting in Dantewada.
  
• MoU signed between Govt of Chhattisgarh, NMDC, IRCON and SAIL for 140km rail line between Rowghat and Jagdalpur. Estimated project cost: Rs 2000 crore.
• MoU ​signed between Ministry of Steel, Govt of Chhattisgarh, SAIL and NMDC for 3 million ton Ultra Mega Steel Plant with an investment of approximately Rs 18,000 crore.
• MoU ​signed between Govt of Chhattisgarh and NMDC for Slurry Pipeline and 2MTPA Pellet Plant at Nagarnar in Bastar District with an investment of Rs 4,000 crore.
• MoU ​signed between Govt of Chhattisgarh and SAIL for setting up 1MTPA Pellet Plant at Dalli-Rajhara, Balod District with an investment of Rs 826 crore. 
• Naxals damage rail tracks on Kirandul-Visakhapatnam route and block roads, as a part of their bandh call opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chhattisgarh.
• PM Narendra Modi to address a public meeting in Dantewada shortly.

  PM @narendramodi being presented traditional Bison-Horn Headdress of Maria Tribe in the Public Meeting at Dantewada pic.twitter.com/KQ2KOWLaZx — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 9, 2015

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Livelihood College.

Hon'ble PM @narendramodi has arrived at #LivelihoodCollege, Dantewada #PMvisitsCG @PMOIndia @ChhattisgarhCMO pic.twitter.com/aVIulsyCab — Chhattisgarh SPLC (@LivelihoodCG) May 9, 2015

• RP Kalluri, IG Bastar Range, says, "The hostage situation is a fiction created by the media....Yesterday, some Maoists came to the village where bridge construction is underway and took five-six labourers who were working on the bridge. As a usual practice, some villagers of Marenga and nearby villagers have gone to the jungle to speak to the Maoists, negotiate and bring these five-six labourers back...But reports of 500-600 villagers held by Maoists is total fiction."
• The Chhattisgarh Police denies that the incident of abduction by Naxals was related to the Prime Minister's visit. Villagers have been held hostage by Naxals, who were apparently angered over their support to the construction of a bridge in Tongpal area of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, adds the Chhattisgarh Police.
• The Prime Minister also visits 'Saksham' - a school for specially-abled children - and interacts with students there. Here is a snapshot of the PM's visit to Saksham Vidyalaya​:

  PM @narendramodi at Saksham Vidyalaya in Education City, #Dantewada @PMOIndia #PMvisitsCG pic.twitter.com/oagxw409Ss — CMO Chhattisgarh (@ChhattisgarhCMO) May 9, 2015

• After concluding the interaction, the PM meets students.

  PM @narendramodi personally met students at #Dantewada & wished them best wishes @PMOIndia #PMvisitsCG pic.twitter.com/vVbFSltQKr — CMO Chhattisgarh (@ChhattisgarhCMO) May 9, 2015

• PM Modi concludes 'Mann ki baat' with students in Dantewada. 
• Interacting with students at the Education City in Jawanga in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, the PM says tribal youth could excel in the global sports arena. He adds that sports is important for children, because it leads to the development of sportsman spirit in society. 
• Asked what he would be if not a politician, he said he would like to be a child.
• "What is most important how much you learn from your failures. If you are focused on your goal and working to achieve it, these things do not matter."
• Talking about his own experiences, the PM says he has faced failure many a times in life. However, one can learn more from failure, than from success. One should be clear about one's goals, and have a firm resolve, in order to achieve success, adds the PM. 
• On being asked about the secret of success, Modi, accompanied by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, says: "I don't think life should be judged through the prism of success or failure. When we do that, disappointment sets in."
• When we live for our own people one cannot get tired. The people of India are my own. I feel happy to work for them. One can never get tired while working, what tires a person is not being able to work. The more one works the better it is. When you finish your homework, don't you feel happy and satisfied, adds the PM.
• Responding to a student who asked him how many hours he works, the Prime Minister replies: "I never calculate how many hours I work because the moment one does that it is not so enjoyable."
• Interacting with students at Education City in Chhattisgarh, the PM says, “More than one's own experience, experiences of others can shape a person.”

  PM @narendramodi interacting with students at Auditorium of Education City at #Dantewada @PMOIndia #PMvisitsCG⁠⁠⁠ pic.twitter.com/3UGl7PAhzd — CMO Chhattisgarh (@ChhattisgarhCMO) May 9, 2015

• As per the official Twitter account of Chief Minister Office Chhattisgarh, the PM will preside over a function at Jawanga shortly.
• Narendra Modi arrives at Naxal-affected Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.
• Security officials have been asked to reach 
• Srichand Sundrani, the BJP's spokesperson in Chhattisgarh, says the government will never bow down to Naxals. Describing the act of taking hostage as 'cowardice', Sundrani says this is how Naxals wanted to mark their presence during the PM's visit.
• 400 people from Marenga and adjoining villages in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district have been taken hostage by Naxals ahead of the PM's visit to the state. The villagers were on their way to participate in the PM's rally.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Jagdalpur. He will reach Dantewada shortly.

  PM Shri @narendramodi arrives at Jagdalpur Airport, Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/BIuJHR2am9 — PIB India (@PIB_India) May 9, 2015

  It's our proud privilege to have with us our PM @narendramodi at CG. @PMOIndia #PMvisitsCG @ChhattisgarhCMO pic.twitter.com/c8wHTqht6G — Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) May 9, 2015

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh welcomes the PM to his state.

  @narendramodi @PMOIndia we are privileged to have your august presence with us today at Chhattisgarh & we tender you our red carpet welcome. — Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) May 9, 2015

• The Prime Minister will also hand over bonuses to two persons engaged in picking 'Tendu' leaves, used for making bidis, besides handing over key of a pickup van to a Dantewada resident.
• Modi will also visit a Livelihood College that has been imparting necessary skills to the youth living in Dantewada region to help them get suitable jobs.
• The PM will visit the Education City in Dantewada spread across over 100 acres and built at the cost of approximately Rs 120 crore. It is estimated to serve almost 5,000 most deprived children of the region every year by providing them the opportunity to have quality education.
• Another MoU for second phase of railway-link between Rowghat and Jagdalpur will be inked during the Prime Minister's visit. The 140-km rail link, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 24,000 crore, will connect Bastar region with important cities of the state like Raipur, Bilaspur and Durg. The rail link will also help in easy and cheaper transportation of iron ore for industries. A MoU for second phase of Rowghat-Jagdalpur line was signed earlier also but was shelved due to lack of funds.
• A Memorandum of Understanding for setting up of the ultra-mega steel plant at Dilmili village in Dantewada, with a capacity of three million tonne every year, will be signed during the Modi's visit. Chhattisgarh will have direct investment of more than Rs 18,000 crore through this project. Over 10,000 people in the region will have direct and indirect employment opportunities through this project.
• The Prime Minister will have 'Mann Ki Baat' with six children, whose parents had been killed by Maoists, and will be present during the signing of MoUs for setting up an ultra mega steel plant and the second phase of Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line, state government officials said.
• Dantewada in tribal Bastar region, is rich in mineral resources, especially iron ore. The area has witnessed a string of Naxal attacks in the past, with the worst being the 2010 Maoist assault that left 76 CRPF personnel dead.
• Before flying to Kolkata later in the day, the Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Dantewada, considered a hub of Naxal activities.
• Modi, after landing in Raipur, will fly to Dantewada, worst-hit by Naxalism and undertake a road journey of nearly 22 kilometres.
• The Prime Minister's visit to Naya Raipur has been cancelled after at least 50 persons were injured yesterday, mostly policemen, when the dome over a stage being erected for Modi's public rally collapsed in severe storm. The Prime Minister was scheduled to inaugurate an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and Police headquarters, besides laying the foundation stone for construction of 40,000 affordable houses for the Lower Income Group and Economically Weaker Sections at Naya Raipur.