Take a pledge to free Chhattisgarh from Maoists: Raman Singh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in his Independence Day speech asked the people to take a pledge to free the state from Maoists.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in his Independence Day speech on Saturday asked the people to take a pledge to free the state from Maoists.

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In a 20-minute speech after hoisting the national flag at the police parade ground in Raipur, Singh said: "I salute the brave tribal brothers and sisters who created a movement against Maoist terrorism through Salwa Judum. I also salute the common people and security personnel who laid down their lives in the fight against Maoists.

"I appeal to you all people to take a pledge to free the state from Naxalites (Maoists)," he added.

"Naxalism has become a potential threat to the country's security and sovereignty. They are maintaining a hold in inaccessible areas on the strength of violence and suppression," said Raman Singh, who has headed a Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state since December 2003.