Stamp out Maoists: Chhattisgarh governor

RAIPUR: Calling Maoists anti-national, Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt urged people on the occasion of Republic Day Thursday to help the authorities to crush them.

"We have to stamp out anti-national Maoists to protect our glorious democracy," he said in his Republic Day speech at the police parade ground here after unfurling the national flag in front of 5,000 people.

"On one hand the state is touching new highs in development, on the other the Maoists have made the life of forested residents worse," he said.

He said the government was committed to fighting the Maoists.

The governor, who is unwell, could not read out his entire 16-page speech in one go. After a brief break, he resumed his speech that focused on how the state government brought in development in the state.

Chief Minister Raman Singh hoisted the national flag at Jagdalpur, headquarters of the sprawling Bastar region, a rebel stronghold since the late 1980s.