Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday participated in the National Executive Meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Vaishnav Brahmin Seva Sangh, Mumbai, held in Raipur.
Addressing the gathering, he called it a moment of pride that the national convention of the Vaishnav Brahmin community was being hosted in Chhattisgarh — the sacred land of Mata Kaushalya and the maternal home of Lord Shri Ram.
Highlighting the rich heritage of the Vaishnav Brahmin community, the Chief Minister said, “The Vaishnav Brahmin community has a glorious legacy, with its eminent personalities setting extraordinary examples of generosity in Chhattisgarh.” He added that the community has a pivotal role to play in the vision of building a developed state.
CM Sai also honoured distinguished individuals from the community for their outstanding achievements across various fields. He acknowledged the historical contributions of the community in strengthening Sanatan Dharma, saying, “The community is not only known for its religious and priestly traditions but has also played an active part in governance and administration.” Citing Rajnandgaon as an example, he noted that royal estates were at times donated for public welfare, reflecting the community’s spirit of generosity.
Speaking about his government’s progress, the Chief Minister stated, “Within just a year and a half, our government has fulfilled the majority of the guarantees made by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.” He reiterated Chhattisgarh’s deep spiritual connection to Lord Shri Ram, noting that over 22,000 devotees had already visited Ayodhya under the Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana.
He also informed the audience that the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana had been resumed, enabling citizens above 60 to undertake pilgrimages of their choice. “Importantly, there is no upper age limit in this scheme for differently-abled individuals, widows, and destitute women,” he added.
Aligning with PM Modi’s national vision for a developed India by 2047, CM Sai said, “Chhattisgarh must also move forward towards becoming a developed state. The Vaishnav Brahmin community has a vital role to play in this mission.” He expressed confidence in the community’s continued unity and contribution to state and national progress.
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Dr. Raman Singh, who also addressed the gathering, praised the Vaishnav Brahmin community for its foresight and societal impact. Reflecting on his tenure in public service, he shared, “The royal family of Rajnandgaon made unparalleled contributions to the development of higher education, railway infrastructure, industry, and water supply systems.”
He cited the legacy of Mahant Digvijay Das, who donated his palace for a college, allocated land for railway expansion, and established the BNC Cotton Mill, generating employment for thousands. He also recalled Mahant Ghasi Das’s gesture of offering free land to traders in Rajnandgaon to boost commerce.
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao, in his remarks, called the Vaishnav Brahmin community a torchbearer of Sanatan Dharma. “This National Executive Meeting will further strengthen unity and collective progress within the community,” he said.
The event was attended by several other dignitaries including Revenue Minister Shri Tankaram Verma, former national president Shri P. L. Bairagi, national vice president Shri Lal J. K. Vaishnav, state president Shri Rakesh Das Vaishnav, Shri Vijay Kumar Das, Shri Raghvendra Das Vaishnav, Dr. Saurabh Nirvani, Smt. Anjana Devi Vaishnav, and Shri Rajneesh Vaishnav, among others.