PANAJI: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has drawn a parallel between his home state and Goa, saying Goa isn’t a Christian-majority state, just as Chhattisgarh isn’t solely a Naxal-affected state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the silver jubilee edition of Lokotsav-25 at Amone–Poinguinim in Canacona today, Sai said he had long assumed Goa was mostly Christian and Western-influenced. A discussion with Goa CM Pramod Sawant, however, clarified that 70% of the state’s population is Hindu.
“I had always assumed Goa was mostly Christian and that Western culture dominated here. But CM Pramod Sawant informed me that 70% of the population is Hindu. Visiting several villages, I was impressed by the strong cultural values and rich traditions here,” Sai said. He added that one of Lokotsav’s objectives is to correct misconceptions about Goa across the country.
Drawing a parallel with Chhattisgarh, Sai said, “Similarly, there has been a perception that Chhattisgarh is entirely Naxal-affected, and people feared visiting Raipur due to security concerns. In reality, our state is rich in minerals like iron, coal, bauxite, lithium, diamonds, gold, and is the only producer of tin in India. Investment was limited largely due to the Naxal image.”
He said the state government, 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 urged visitors to help spread awareness about the state’s progress and said Lokotsav-25 would serve as a platform to showcase both Goa’s cultural identity and Chhattisgarh’s development.
