Tribal Welfare Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar lights the traditional lamp at the inauguration of the silver jubilee edition of the Lokosthav-25 on Friday.
CANACONA
Drawing a parallel between his home State and Goa, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday said Chhattisgarh isn’t solely a Naxal-affected State just as Goa isn’t a Christian-majority State.
Sai was addressing a huge gathering at the inauguration of the silver jubilee edition of the Lokosthav-25 in the presence of Tribal Welfare Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar at Adarshgram-Poinguinim at Amone–Poinguinim.
“I had the misconception that Goa was a Christian-majority state and that western culture dominated here. While I was interacting last night with my friend, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, he clarified that 70% of Goa’s population is Hindu,” said Sai.
“Minister Tawadkar also reiterated that there are 70% Hindus in Goa and people here live in complete harmony and peaceful co-existence. I also met some people here in Goa and found them to be hospitable, with strong cultural values and rich traditions.”
“Likewise, there is also a misconception that Chhattisgarh is full of Naxalites, and people used to think that the moment they land in Raipur, people would hear the sounds of firing. However, Chhattisgarh is rich in minerals like iron, coal, bauxite, lithium, diamond, gold and is a progressive state.
He said Chhattisgarh, supported by the Centre, aims to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. “Large-scale Naxalism is now being dismantled, the backbone of Naxal forces has been broken, and several industrial projects are already underway. In just one year, Chhattisgarh has received investment proposals worth around Rs 8 lakh crore, with a focus on SCs and STs,” he added.
Sai appealed to visitors to help spread awareness about his state’s progress and said Lokotsav-25 would serve as a platform to showcase both Goa’s cultural identity and Chhattisgarh’s development.
Earlier in his address, Tawadkar said the main objective of the Lokosthav is to make the festival known to the people of the country and world-over/abroad and to create employment opportunities through it to the local youths.
Others present at the event included Rajasthan MLAs Gopichand, Madhavi Lata, Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Laxuman Pagui, Poinguinim ZP member Ajay Lolayekar, Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar, Agonda Sarpanch Nilesh Pagi, Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar, Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Nisha Chari, Khotigao Sarpanch Jayesh Gaonkar, BJP Mandal (Canacona) President Prabhakar Gaonkar, and President of Adarsh Yuva Sangh Chandrakant Velip.
On the occasion, BJP (ST Front) National President Sameer Orao, IAS officer and others including Cheshta Yadav, Siddharth Gawas Desai, Vitthal Melkulwadi, Sandeep Phaldesai, Suman Samant, Kiran Mhambre, Kavita Borkar, Vivek Naik, Nilesh Dhaigodkar, Narendra Gaonkar, Reshma Chanekar, and Seema Bhushan Prabhugaonkar were honoured for excelling in various fields.
The silver jubilee edition of Lokosthav-25 is jointly organised by Adarsh Yuva Sangh, Balram Education Society, Directorate of Arts and Culture and Tribal Welfare Department.
