Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma during an event titled ‘Sankalp – Interaction with Force Commanders and Commandos’ in Chhattisgarh. Shah interacted with security forces’ commanders and personnel, who were involved in major anti-Naxal operations. Photo credit: X/@AmitShah
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Monday (June 23, 2025) held an interaction with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Nawa Raipur. Lauding the personnel for their efforts in the anti-Naxal operations being conducted in the Bastar region, the Minister said Naxalism had deprived the poor tribal population of basic necessities.
“I have full faith that it is the bravery and tireless efforts of our security forces that make the battle against Naxalism a success….I know that what our jawans set out to achieve, they always accomplish,” he added. Mr. Shah asserted, “It is the trust in our security forces inspired by which I keep reiterating that we will eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026,” he said.
Slavery for decades
He said Naxalism led to the death of nearly 40,000 people over the last 35 years, while many more had been left disabled. Naxal violence deprived the poor tribal population of basic necessities such as food, electricity, education, housing, toilets, and clean drinking water — let alone any possibility of industrial development. Entire regions were forced to live in conditions akin to slavery for decades, and the root cause of this suffering was Naxalism.
Mr. Shah expressed satisfaction that as Naxalism was being eliminated from various regions, the Chhattisgarh government was ensuring the delivery of food, healthcare, education, electricity, housing, sanitation, and clean drinking water — thereby connecting people with the mainstream of development.
“When a child picks up a pencil instead of a gun and begins writing ‘Ka, Kha, Ga’ [the Devnagri alphabets], it doesn’t just change the future of that child, but of the entire nation,” he said. “That moment is near.”
The Home Minister said that when the country would become free from Naxalism in March 2026 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it would be one of the most significant moments since Independence.
Mr. Shah released a book ‘Leor Oyna’ in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The book is based on the lives of victims of Naxal violence. According to an official statement, the book would help in “understanding the pain of those innocent and unarmed people who fell prey to the ruthless violence inflicted by Naxalites. It will also open the eyes of those who show sympathy towards Naxalites in the name of human rights and will be instrumental in exposing them”.
Published – June 23, 2025 09:42 pm IST
