The word “Chhattisgarh” which we use in our address today is the gift of respected Atal ji – Chief Minister Sai

Chief Minister Sai attended the Pushpanjali program organized on the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna revered late Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Raipur, 16 August 2026: Today, we Chhattisgarhis use the word “Chhattisgarh” in our address, it is the gift of revered Atal ji. He will always be remembered as the creator of our Chhattisgarh state. Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai said this while addressing the garland and wreath ceremony organized at Avanti Vihar Chowk in the capital Raipur on the occasion of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Bharat Ratna revered late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Chief Minister Sai paid tribute by garlanding the statue of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and remembered him. Chief Minister Sai said that Atal ji was a man of multi-faceted talent. He made his distinct identity as a journalist, poet and politician. Everyone was impressed by his speech. Chief Minister Sai said that we have started the ‘Silver Festival’ of Chhattisgarh state formation which will run for 25 weeks. If we are celebrating the silver jubilee year of Chhattisgarh today, it is the gift of Atal ji. In these 25 weeks, various programs will be organized by all the departments. This year is also the birth centenary year of Atal ji. We have declared this year as ‘Atal Nirman Year’ in his memory, under which a separate budget provision has been made to accelerate infrastructure development.

Chief Minister Sai said that our state is rapidly progressing on the path of progress while fulfilling the objectives for which Atal ji created the state of Chhattisgarh. The biggest achievement of these 25 years is that we have not only conceptualized becoming a developed state in the next 25 years, but have also prepared a roadmap ‘Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision-2047’ to fulfill it. Sharing his memoirs, Chief Minister Sai said that it was my good fortune that when Atal ji became the Prime Minister of the country for the third time, I was elected as an MP. I have heard Atal ji’s lectures in Parliament. We all used to wait for his address in the Lok Sabha. His witty style, frankness and art of presenting his views used to charm everyone. When the bill related to the formation of Chhattisgarh state was presented in the Parliament, I got the opportunity to listen to that discussion as a listener. At that time, Rajya Sabha MPs from our state, late Lakhi Ram Agarwal and late Dilip Singh Judev also presented their views in the Parliament. Chief Minister Sai said that Atal ji taught us that we should always remain firm on principles. He used to give importance to the politics of principles and values. The Chief Minister said that Atal ji’s life is a proof of the fact that politics is not only a means of attaining power, but is also the art of dialogue, consensus and empathy. His words still resonate in our heart beats. MLA Purandar Mishra and Chairman of State Food Civil Supplies Corporation Sanjay Srivastava also addressed the program. On this occasion, Kishore Mahanand, Jayanti Patel, officials of Avanti Vihar Vyapari Sangh and other dignitaries were present.