India Naxal-free, says Amit Shah; targets Congress, Left over insurgency

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday declared that India is now “naxal-mukt” (free of Naxalism), describing the near-elimination of Left-wing extremism as one of the biggest achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure.

Replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha under Rule 193, a day ahead of the government’s March 31 deadline, Shah said Naxalism had been “almost eradicated” from Bastar and that the region was now firmly on the path of development.

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Highlighting the scale of operations, Shah said, “4,839 Naxalites have surrendered, 2,218 have been jailed, and 706 who refused to surrender were killed in encounters,” praising security forces for their “bravery and courage.” He added that while a formal announcement would follow after due process, he was confident that India had effectively become Naxal-free.

Rejecting opposition claims, Shah asserted that those willing to lay down arms could engage in dialogue, but violence would be met with force. He emphasised that the Modi government would not bow to threats and remained committed to constitutional governance.

In a sharp political attack, Shah blamed the Congress and Left parties for the rise and spread of Naxalism. He accused the Congress of fostering conditions that enabled Maoist ideology to grow, linking the roots of the insurgency to policies during the tenure of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Questioning decades of governance, he asked why tribal communities remained deprived despite long years of Congress rule, asserting that significant development—housing, clean water, education, connectivity and banking—had reached these regions only under the current government.

Targeting what he termed “urban Naxals,” Shah criticised sections advocating dialogue with armed Maoists, saying such voices ignored the plight of innocent citizens affected by violence. He also rejected the argument that Naxalism stemmed from poverty, instead stating that affected regions remained underdeveloped because of insurgency.

Referring to Left parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), Shah questioned their ideological origins and accused them of historically supporting armed revolution. He contrasted this with India’s nationalist icons such as Birsa Munda and Bhagat Singh, stating that Maoists drew inspiration from foreign ideology.

Shah noted that at its peak, Naxalism affected 12 states—including Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, parts of Karnataka and districts of Uttar Pradesh—forming the so-called “Red Corridor” where governance had weakened significantly.

Referring to Chhattisgarh, he also accused former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of “protecting” Naxals, an allegation repeatedly denied by the Congress.

According to Shah, the situation in Bastar has improved significantly due to enhanced security operations and development outreach, with “the shadow of red terror lifting” and governance returning to the region.

Earlier, BJP and NDA members criticised the previous UPA government for failing to curb Maoism, while highlighting the NDA’s focus on security, infrastructure, and tribal welfare. Leaders such as Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde and TDP MP Byreddy Shabari stressed a combined approach of security and development.

Opposition members, however, pointed to measures taken during Congress-led governments including police modernisation and the creation of specialised forces like the CoBRA. Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka said the party had followed a balanced strategy of security and welfare, while AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi cautioned against declaring premature victory over Naxalism.