A declaration that reshapes how India sees its most restive heartland: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has proclaimed Chhattisgarh fully free of Naxal presence, and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is amplifying that message with a bold tourism vision for the state — on Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav 2026, the day the state marks its founding.

Posting on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, CM Sai quoted Shah directly: 'Chhattisgarh ab Naxalmukht ho gaya hai' — 'Chhattisgarh has now become Naxal-free.' The Home Minister went further, predicting the state would rank 'number 1 to 3 in tourism' in the coming days, citing Chitrakot Waterfall, Tirathgarh Waterfall, Kanger Valley National Park, Maa Danteshwari temple in Dantewada, and the world-famous Bastar Dussehra as magnets capable of drawing global travellers.

A State Born Amid Conflict, Now Claimed Liberated

Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh on 1 November 2000 — its 26th foundation day falls today. From its very birth, the state's southern Bastar region was synonymous with Left Wing Extremism. The so-called 'Red Corridor' stretched through its forested districts, making them among the most dangerous in the country for both security forces and civilians. Decades of combined security operations and development pushes have been the central government's stated playbook — and Shah's declaration, quoted by the Chief Minister, positions 2026 as the year that playbook finally closed the chapter. It is a politically charged milestone. The BJP governments at the Centre and in Raipur have made Naxal elimination a cornerstone of their governance narrative in Chhattisgarh. To mark that achievement on Rajyotsav — the state's own birthday — is a deliberate, resonant choice.

Bastar's Waterfalls and Dussehra: The Tourism Pitch

Shah's tourism forecast rests on geography that is genuinely spectacular. Chitrakot Waterfall, often called the 'Niagara of India,' and Tirathgarh Waterfall both sit within or near Kanger Valley National Park — a biodiversity reserve in Bastar that harbours rare flora, cave systems, and river gorges. Maa Danteshwari temple in Dantewada is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, drawing pilgrims from across India. And Bastar Dussehra is no ordinary festival — running for roughly 75 days, it is considered one of the longest-running tribal festivals on the planet, rooted in Gondwana traditions that predate the Mughal era. The infrastructure to convert that raw appeal into ranked tourism, however, still needs to materialise. Connectivity, hospitality capacity, and sustained peace on the ground will determine whether the ambition becomes a statistic.

Security Claim That Carries Political Weight

The assertion of a 'Naxal-free' Chhattisgarh is significant — and contested territory. Security analysts and opposition voices have historically cautioned against premature declarations, pointing to the cyclical nature of insurgent movements. The research available does not independently verify a complete end to Naxal activity in the state as of November 2026. What is verifiable is a sharp and documented decline in Left Wing Extremism incidents across the region over recent years, with security forces recording major operational successes in Bastar and adjoining districts. For CM Sai, carrying Shah's words into public discourse on the state's founding day is a calculated statement: security has been won, and now development — anchored in tourism — is the next front.

If the waterfalls of Bastar become as recognisable to the global traveller as the ghats of Varanasi, it will be the ultimate proof of point — peace converted into prosperity.