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Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Maoist mouthpiece to corporate voice: Surrendered guerrilla's leap of faith
1 2 Gadchiroli: Aseem Rajaram spent years being a Maoist megaphone in Gadchiroli, booming out messages that industry dreaded. On Tuesday, he was the face of corporate resurgence in the former rebel redoubt. After the 36-year-old's surrender last year, the former Maoist spokesperson is now a key member of the public relations team of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL). The irony cannot be missed — the former guerrilla had for a decade opposed LMEL's iron ore mining venture in Gadchiroli. As Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation of a mega integrated LMEL steel plant on Tuesday, Aseem hogged the arc lights. The road to the new spotlight was tortuous. Aseem landed in the booby-trapped Maoist headquarters of Abujmarh in 2005 at age 16 from Jind (Haryana), where Naxal frontal groups were active since the late 1990s. Surviving on rat meat and shrubs, Aseem rose through the ranks to pilot the Maoist propaganda machinery for more than a decade. Shifting bases and dalams (rebel squads), he worked as the spokesperson for top guerrillas, including Muppalla Laxman Rao alias Ganapathi, Maoist politburo member Bhupathi alias Sonu and Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraj. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Bhupathi had recently given a truce call amid an intensified crackdown, while Basavaraj was shot dead in an encounter this May. In an exclusive chat with TOI about his turbulent past, Aseem said People's War Group (PWG) of Maoists was active even in northern states and their cadres would brainwash schoolchildren. "A shootout that involved my seniors in Jind changed my life. They advised me to flee to Chhattisgarh, and my journey as a Maoist began," said Aseem, who married a fellow woman Maoist, a Gadchiroli tribal who surrendered along with him. According to Aseem, the first six months were an endurance test. "Fresh recruits had to survive on rat meat or pickle made of an extremely sour shrub. I passed the test but preferred to remain in the propaganda wing even though I underwent weapons training and held a Kalashnikov. They groomed me and others for a struggle against the so-called landed class which ultimately took me to Red Corridor (Abujmarh)," said Aseem. The change of heart happened years later when Aseem once helped save the lives of four captured cops. "I reminded them (Maoist seniors) of Geneva Convention (norms). That displeased my seniors, and I was slowly sidelined. Finally, they allowed me to go. It's normal to leave after a cooling period. For six years, I lived under a fake identity in Himachal Pradesh. Realising that I may not be able to live in disguise for long, I surrendered. It was safer in Maharashtra. Police got me a job in LMEL," he said, thanking IG Sandeep Patil. Aseem pointed out that even Maoists had an "amicable exit policy". Disgruntled rebels are allowed to leave peacefully, the only condition being they should not become police informers, he said. In the Maoists' propaganda wing, Aseem recalled having procured an offset printing press that was modified for manual operations --- to print leaflets warning villagers and others. "There were horses for transporting supplies," Aseem said. The rebels depended on weapons looted from security forces, but bullets were limited. "Each guerrilla had no more than 30 to 40 rounds. There were orders to fire only as a last resort. Maoists depended more on landmines to ambush and kill. There were chemical engineers in our teams who would train the cadre in making explosives," Aseem said. Over 40% Maoist cadre are tribal women and the regressive social structure draws them towards Maoism, Aseem said, adding he gradually became disillusioned with violence. "I realised that in a country like India no form of dictatorship either extreme left or right can succeed."
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi acting on diktats of urban naxals: CM Fadnavis
Konsari (Gadchiroli): At an industrial launch in Gadchiroli, state CM sharpened his attack on Congress leader , accusing him of being heavily influenced by "urban naxals" and ultra-Left ideologues. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gadchiroli steel hub will blunt Chinese competition with high quality ore: Fadnavis
1 2 Konsari (Gadchiroli): Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, laid the foundation of Maharashtra's first mega integrated steel plant at Konsari in Gadchiroli, which will be built by Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) and is expected to roll out in 30 months and create 20,000 jobs. The chain of industrial developments will catapult Gadchiroli to Maharashtra's top 10 districts in per capita income within five years. With massive iron ore deposits in Gadchiroli, the emerging steel industry in the once Maoist-wracked district will stand as a competition to China, said Fadnavis. Currently, Gadchiroli is one of the two districts with lowest GDP and per capita income. The govt has also identified land for JSW Group's integrated steel plant in Gadchiroli, which is slated to be the largest in the world. Talking to TOI on the sidelines of the event, LMEL's managing director B Prabhakaran said China depends on high-grade coal and average quality iron ore. "The ore in China contains around 60% to 67% iron, whereas in Gadchiroli, the average realisation itself is at 67%. This gives a huge advantage to the domestic steel industry. With increasing use of gas instead of coal as fuel, the cost of production is expected to dip compared to the Chinese industry," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Storage running out on your Mac? Space Lens will show you why MacPaw Read More Undo The steel plant at Gadchiroli has its logistical advantages as it can easily cater to southern states. "There is a major gap between steel production and iron ore availability. Gadchiroli has a massive potential for iron ore exploitation and what LMEL has is just the tip of the iceberg. The mines with a 25 MTPA capacity are spread over 300 hectares. As much as 5,000 hectares in the district is expected to have iron ore underground. The 300 hectare mine itself attracts an investment of Rs 40,000 crore," said Prabhakaran. LMEL also issued fresh appointment letters to 1,400 persons in its existing unit, which includes a direct reduced iron (DRI) plant, mines, and a pellet-making plant. LMEL currently employs 11,000 people and this would increase to 13,000 in coming months. This is over and above the 20,000 jobs to be created by the integrated steel plant. It has set aside 10% of the promoters' share to be offered under the employee stock options programme (ESOP), which was announced on January 1. Shares worth Rs 1,400 were offered at a nominal price of Rs 4 each. Any fresh employee is eligible for ESOP after a certain period. So far, 10,600 workers have availed of ESOP, says the company, dubbing this to be a unique model in the sector. Fadnavis also inaugurated a 4 MTPA pellet plant, a slurry pipeline with a 10 MTPA capacity, and an iron ore grinding unit of 5MPPA at Hedri, 85km off the steel plant site. Majority of the employees are locals. A woman who joined as a housekeeping staff with a Rs 12,000 pay, underwent skill training and earns Rs 55,000 a month.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
From ‘punishment posting' to next steel powerhouse: CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates several projects in Gadchiroli
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Tuesday that Gadchiroli, once regarded as the state's most backward region – often known to be the place for 'punishment postings' – is now set to become the country's next steel powerhouse, driven by developments from Lloyds Metals and Energy and a model of growth rooted in local employment, conservation, and inclusivity. Fadnavis was speaking at Konsari village in Gadchiroli's Chamorshi taluka on Tuesday where he inaugurated several projects of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL). He also laid the foundation stone for the company's mega integrated steel plant. Addressing a public gathering, Fadnavis lauded LMEL's managing director B Prabhakaran for 'walking with society', and making all employees stakeholders in the company's success. 'This is not just industrial development, this is transformation. Every employee is also a shareholder,' he said. Fadnavis praised the police and the people of Gadchiroli for standing by the Constitution and the democratic system and not with Maoists, who have been thriving in the area for decades. 'Today, even former Naxals are working at Lloyds plant. The Naxal network has been broken, only a few remain, and they too must surrender,' he appealed. The chief minister, however, cautioned against what he termed 'urban Maoism', referring to alleged misinformation campaigns on social media that claimed tribal land was forcibly acquired and forests destroyed in Gadchiroli. 'These are not voices from Gadchiroli, they are just a few people based in cities like Bengaluru and Kolkata, who are being funded from abroad, trying to keep Adivasis poor, backward, and enslaved,' he said. Reaffirming his government's commitment, Fadnavis said, 'We will not rest until Gadchiroli becomes the number one district in Maharashtra. The next five years will see income levels rise and lives change in ways people once thought was impossible.' Drawing inspiration from Dr B R Ambedkar's vision, Fadnavis said the transformation underway in Gadchiroli reflects the vision of India's Constitution. 'This is the real struggle, not just against poverty or underdevelopment, but against a mindset that wants to keep tribal India in the past.' Mining operations began in Gadchiroli around 2016-17, following official approvals. Since then, Lloyds has played a key role in establishing an end-to-end steel ecosystem in the district, he added. 'We didn't want Gadchiroli to remain just a resource supplier for industries outside, where it would face enormous pollution at the cost of development. Our vision was and is to benefit local youth and help them get jobs here,' Fadnavis said. He said over 14,000 local youths are now employed with the company. The BJP leader also shared stories of local women who started in housekeeping roles and now drive heavy Volvo trucks, earning over Rs 55,000 per month. He also noted that some women will be operating pellet trucks, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Fadnavis also announced the bhoomi pujan for an upcoming integrated steel plant, which will generate another 20,000 jobs. The project, he informed, will be completed in 30 months. He also highlighted collaborations between Gondwana University and an Australian university to train youth in advanced mining technologies. 'Students will study partly in Australia and partly in Gadchiroli. Soon the students of Gadchiroli studying at the institute will be known as the best mining engineers of India,' he added. 'May it be a pellet plant, or a slurry pipeline, another conversation I had with B Prabhakaran was that we need to develop the region, but 'jal, jamin, and jungle' (water, land, and forest), which is the identity of Gadchiroli, needs to be preserved. There should not be destruction of this wealth. We need to try and ensure that there is no pollution which harms the beauty of this region,' said Fadnavis. Responding to concerns about environmental impact, Fadnavis underlined that the Gadchiroli model is based on 'green growth.' He stressed that an 80-kilometre slurry pipeline has been installed by Lloyds to prevent pollution. He was concerned that the slurry could be a cause of concern for environmental pollution, but the pipeline made it look easy. He said the region will soon transition to electric vehicles for most industrial movements. Fadnavis also announced a mega plantation drive, with 1 crore trees to be planted over the next two years, starting with 40 lakh saplings on Tuesday. He also hinted that a nursery similar to those in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, will also be established to ensure a high survival rate of planted saplings. The chief minister said the state government's Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme will be functional in Gadchiroli as the company is keen to build a new hospital in the region. A school will also be constructed. 'Gadchiroli has the potential to produce better steel than China, and that too, green steel,' Fadnavis claimed, reaffirming the push for reducing dependence on gas and coal. Gadchiroli Joint Guardian Minister Ashish Jaiswal, MLAs Dharmaraobaba Atram and Milind Narote and others were present at the event
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CM to launch 1 crore plantation drive, steel plant construction in Gadchiroli today
1 2 3 Nagpur: A plantation drive that should take care of 10% of the state's 10 crore saplings target for increasing green cover will commence at Gadchiroli on Tuesday. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will kick-start the plantation of one crore saplings in the Maoist-affected district. On the same day, he will also lay the foundation stone of an integrated steel plant being built by Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) at Konsari village in the district. The steel plant is expected to bring an economic metamorphosis in the district. Gadchiroli district collector Avishyant Panda said, "We are ready with 40 lakh saplings which will be planted during this monsoon season itself. The remaining 60 lakh will be planted within two years, and nurseries are being readied to ensure that the target is met." He added, "This is not just a plantation campaign; it's a movement now." "The 40 lakh saplings have been mainly sourced from the forest department, specifically the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), which has a huge nursery bank. For the remaining 60 lakh, we have mobilised funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) too," said the collector. Later, at Konsari, after laying the foundation stone of the steel plant, Fadnavis will also inaugurate the first phase of a 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) iron ore grinding plant at Hedri in Gadchiroli district, a 10 MTPA capacity slurry pipeline from Hedri to Konsari, and a 4.5 MTPA capacity pellet plant at Konsari. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The integrated steel plant is proposed to have a capacity of 4.5 MTPA. Fadnavis will also inaugurate a 100-bedded hospital, a CBSE pattern school at Konsari, apart from performing a ground breaking ceremony of the company's township. The steel complex and other units by LMEL mark a new chapter for the district. It has emerged as a source of employment for locals, and even surrendered Maoists have taken up jobs in LMEL, said a note shared with TOI. They have been trained by the company in industry-oriented skills and absorbed into jobs to aid the process of integrating them into the mainstream of society. LMEL managing director B Prabhakaran said that more than 140 years ago, Gadchiroli could have been the birthplace of the Indian steel industry. Now, it's time for the district to shine. His statement referred to Jamsetji Tata's plan to start steel making at Gadchiroli, which was dropped as there was no rail connectivity at that time. The integrated steel plant, for which the foundation stone will be laid, is also a step towards the country's vision of making 'Green Steel', said Prabhakaran.
