PM Narendra Modi is set to visit the naxal-affected area Bastar in Dantewada district of Chhatisgarh today.

The PM will fly to the area, worst-hit by naxalism, to take stock of socio-economic development initiatives and undertake a road journey of nearly 22 kilometres. Before flying to Kolkata later in the day the Prime Minister will address a public meeting at Dantewada, considered a hub of Naxal activities.

Dantewada in tribal Bastar region, is rich in mineral resources, especially iron ore. The area has witnessed a string of naxal attacks in the past, with the worst being the 2010 Maoist assault that left 76 CRPF personnel dead.

The Congress has been protesting the visit saying that it was wary about the PM real motive to visit the area, says NDTV report. The party claims the agenda of the government is to dole out the mineral rich land to corporate rather than conduct work for the welfare of the poor n the area. Congress will reportedly boycott the visit.  The move by the Congress has been hailed as wrongful by BJP who say that the party should not play politics in the matters of welfare of the people, the report added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rally at Naya Raipur was cancelled as the dome erected for the rally collapsed in severe storm. The Prime Minister was scheduled to inaugurate an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and Police headquarters, besides laying the foundation stone for construction of 40,000 affordable houses for the Lower Income Group and Economically Weaker Sections at Naya Raipur.

Heavy security as been deployed in the area for the PM's visit.

PM Modi will have 'Mann Ki Baat' with six children, whose parents had been killed by Maoists, and will be present during the signing of MoUs for setting up an ultra mega steel plant and the second phase of Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line, state government officials said. He will visit the Education City in Dantewada spread across over 100 acres and built at the cost of approximately Rs 120 crore. It is estimated to serve almost 5,000 most deprived children of the region every year by providing them the opportunity to have quality education.

Modi will also visit a Livelihood College that has been imparting necessary skills to the youth living in Dantewada region to help them get suitable jobs. The Prime Minister will also hand over bonuses to two persons engaged in picking 'Tendu' leaves, used for making bidis, besides handing over key of a pickup van to a Dantewada resident. "The dome for the PM's public meeting at the newly-built Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) collapsed following a severe storm and rain in region," the state PWD minister Rajesh Munat said.
(DNA)