India, March 30 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Maoism got encouragement for decades in Chhattisgarh and other states due to policies of the Congress party and the situation in Chhattisgarh is rapidly changing with a new era of peace being seen in Maoist-affected areas.

Addressing a public meeting in Mohbhattha village in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, Modi said many mothers lost their beloved sons and many sisters lost their brothers in Maoist violence.

"Over the decades, Maoism got encouragement in many states including Chhattisgarh due to policies of Congress. Whichever region lagged behind in development, Maoism flourished there, but what did the party that ran the government for 60 years do? It declared such dist...