Konsari (Gadchiroli): At an industrial launch in Gadchiroli, state CM Devendra Fadnavis sharpened his attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of being heavily influenced by “urban naxals” and ultra-Left ideologues. Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony of Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited’s (LMEL) integrated steel plant in Konsari — a tribal belt once plagued by Maoist insurgency — Fadnavis charged Gandhi with enabling radical elements to stall the state’s development.“Rahul Gandhi is surrounded by urban naxals. He acts on their diktats,” Fadnavis told reporters. “Congress is opposing the Jan Suraksha Act, as per Gandhi’s directives, and this opposition is being fuelled by people with radical ideologies.”The Jan Suraksha Act has triggered protests from civil rights groups and opposition parties, who claim it may be misused to suppress dissent. Fadnavis, however, asserted that a thorough legislative review found the Act to be constitutionally sound. “The law was vetted clause by clause with opposition members on the review panel. This is propaganda by extreme leftists,” he said. Fadnavis cautioned residents of Konsari against what he described as a “coordinated misinformation campaign” by urban naxals operating outside the state. “They are not locals. Their digital footprints lead to cities like Kolkata and Bengaluru. They are spreading lies that tribals are being displaced or forests are being axed. The truth is, there is a conspiracy to derail Gadchiroli’s progress,” he said.The CM alleged the social media campaign against the project was backed by foreign-funded groups. “Such attempts are part of a bigger plot to stall development using misinformation and fear. We won’t allow them to succeed,” he said.The CM also spoke of a marked shift in Gadchiroli’s profile — from a Maoist-hit zone to an emerging industrial district. “A few years ago, officers refused to take postings here. Today, they are seeking transfers to Gadchiroli. That is the transformation,” he said.
