NAGPUR: Maharashtra state home minister Anil Deshmukh chose an innovative way to make this Diwali memorable for the commandos in Maoist-affected south Gadchiroli in eastern Vidarbha. He became the first home minister to visit an interior post in Gadchiroli on a festival day to greet commandos and express gratitude for their sacrifice.
Deshmukh, along with wife Arti, flew from Nagpur to greet the commandos deployed in state's farthest post at Patagudam in sironcha taluka near Maharashtra-Chhattishgarh border. The post is located around 300-km away from Gadchiroli located at the heart of the Maoist bastion. As per his version, it was an unique 'field' day for him at the ground zero of combat zone where he combined work with celebrations in a first of it's kind gesture. "I wanted to enjoy some Diwali moments with the brave jawans and also have discussion and review the security issues," he said.
While HM fed the commandos sweets, his wife distributed eatables among the family members and children. Deshmukh and his wife too interacted with the children.
DIG, Naxal range, Sandip Patil, SP Ankit Goyal, Addl SP Manish Kalwaniya and others too were present on the occasion.
Apart from lauding the efforts and sacrifice of the commandos, Deshmukh expressed gratitude for the force who remained on toes guarding against the Maoist guerillas at a post considered highly sensitive from security point of view.
Deshmukh said it was his responsibility to visit and spend time with commandos for boosting their morale. "The valour and efforts of the commandos in Gadchiroli had been so extraordinary at such difficult posts and places that it would be appropriate for me to visit them on Diwali to boost their morale," he said. Deshmukh stated he took his wife along to ensure that she could interact with the women commandos and police families too.
During his speech, Deshmukh extolled Gadchiroli jawans for their latest success in north Gadchiroli where they had gunned down five Maoists.