T S Singh Deo questions Amit Shah over US travel advisory on women's safety in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader T S Singh Deo on Sunday has sparked a political firestorm, questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah on a recent US travel advisory, which warns American citizens, particularly women, against traveling alone in India, with a specific caution against visiting Naxal-affected regions like Chhattisgarh.

Taking to X, T S Singh Deo cited the advisory and asked, “The US govt has clearly stated that women should not travel alone in India, especially in Chhattisgarh. Why? Because rape, violence, and terrorism are out of control.”

Calling it a serious global embarrassment for India, he said the advisory is an indictment of the law-and-order situation under both the Modi govt at the Centre and the BJP-led state govt in Chhattisgarh.

“‘Beti Bachao’ has been reduced to just a slogan and posters,” Singh Deo wrote. “This is a collective failure of both govts that has now tarnished the nation’s image on the international stage.”

He further challenged Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Raipur for official engagements, including laying the foundation of forensic institutes, to go beyond speeches and conduct a serious review of internal security and women’s safety, areas that fall directly under his ministerial responsibility.

“When the Home Minister is here in Chhattisgarh, he must address why such alarming advisories are being issued about our state,” Singh Deo added.

Singh Deo didn’t stop at the advisory alone. He stepped up attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's global leadership claims, calling them “hollow,” and alleged that even “Modiji’s closest allies are now exposing the truth behind the façade of the so-called ‘Amrit Kaal’.”

“If urgent reforms are not brought in, India under Modi’s ‘New India’ slogans will continue to be met only with warnings and humiliation on the global stage,” he warned.

What Does the US Advisory Say?

The US Department of State’s travel advisory specifically cautions its citizens—especially women—against traveling alone in India, citing rising incidents of rape and sexual violence, particularly in tourist hotspots, transit centers, markets, and shopping malls.

The advisory further warns against travel to Naxal-affected regions including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and eastern Maharashtra, due to the ongoing Maoist insurgency. It also discourages visits to Manipur, citing violent unrest and high crime rates.

The US government emphasized that its ability to provide emergency assistance in rural and remote areas is limited, further underscoring the risks for solo travellers, especially women.