‘Maoist terrorism great injustice and grave sin against nation’s youth’: PM Modi at World Summit 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that India will be free of Naxal menace very soon, adding his government was working hard to bring misguided youth back to the mainstream. Addressing the NDTV World Summit, PM Modi spoke at length on the Naxal issue and said Maoist terrorism was “a great injustice and a grave sin against the nation’s youth”.

“During the Congress rule, the Urban Naxal ecosystem was very powerful. There used to be censorship at that time in order to ensure Maoist terror related incidents and stories of their victims do not get publicity. These Urban Naxals also used to control many state institutions,” the PM said, referring to the support Naxalites received from some sections of the civil society, including intellectuals.

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“While the rest of the country was governed by the Constitution, the so-called Red Corridor was not. Not just the common people but even the security persons there used to move around with security cover,” he added.

The PM said the Maoists ensured during the height of their terror that development did not reach the areas controlled by them. And they used to destroy whatever infrastructure existed in those areas, he added.

Becoming emotional, PM Modi further said it was the first time that he was speaking in detail about the Naxal menace.

“Eleven years ago, over 125 districts were affected by the Maoist terror. Now, the problem has been tackled to a large extent and Naxal influence is now just restricted to 11 districts,” Modi told the gathering.

“Over the last 75 hours, 303 Naxals have surrendered. These were not ordinary Naxalites. Some had Rs 1 crore bounty on them while others had Rs 15 lakh or Rs 5 lakh. These Naxals are now ready to accept and embrace the Constitution of India, and they want to return to the mainstream,” the PM added.

Modi pointed out that Bastar in Chhattisgarh used to be one of the worst Maoist affected districts. It is now free of Naxalism and the youth there organise and participate in Bastar Olympics.

“The day is not far when India will be completely free of Naxalism. This is also Modi’s guarantee,” the PM said, exuding confidence.

Nation’s achievements on economic front

Speaking on other issues, the Prime Minister declared that “India won’t stop, India won’t halt,” signaling the nation’s unstoppable momentum amid remarkable economic growth and reform achievements.

PM Modi highlighted India’s confidence saying, “India is not in the mood to stop today! We will neither pause nor slow down. 140 crore Indians will move forward together with full momentum.”

His speech highlighted India’s dramatic transformation from being part of the “fragile five” economies to now standing tall among the world’s top five economic powerhouses. “Today, from chips to ships, India is self-reliant and filled with confidence in every sphere,” he stated, underscoring the country’s strides across diverse sectors.

The Prime Minister spotlighted key initiatives shaping India’s progress, including the e-Sanjeevani digital healthcare platform, which has already benefited over one lakh people, and the development of a domestic 4G stack, reflecting India’s growing technological prowess. He also noted India’s rising appeal to global investors, mentioning Google’s entry into the Indian AI sector as a testament to the country’s expanding innovation landscape.

Critiquing previous Congress-led administrations, PM Modi highlighted their failure to revitalize public sector undertakings (PSUs), which he said were “locked up” under their watch. Contrastingly, the current government has revived these entities, with PSUs now breaking profit records. He further pointed to improved energy infrastructure, asserting, “Congress tried to shut petrol pumps. Now, petrol pumps remain open whole night,” symbolizing enhanced service delivery.

On the economic front, the Prime Minister projected sustained growth above 7%, accompanied by inflation under 2%, positioning India as a reliable and responsible global partner. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuous reforms, stating, “We have turned every risk into reform, every reform into resilience, and every resilience into a revolution.”

PM Modi’s address delivered a resounding message of confidence and determination, showcasing India’s readiness to forge ahead relentlessly on its path to becoming a major global player — unstoppable and unwavering in its progress.

(With inputs from Shahid K Abbas)