Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave an important statement on Saturday at the closing ceremony of Bastar Olympics 2024 regarding the ongoing fight against Naxalism in Bastar. He said that in the last ten years, the Government of India has taken decisive steps on many fronts against Naxalism, and has now achieved unprecedented success in this fight. Meanwhile, he appealed to the citizens of the country for greater cooperation against Naxalism and once again made it clear that Naxalism will be completely eliminated from the country by 31 March 2026.
success of the last ten years
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in his address that the impact of the strict steps taken by the Government of India against Naxalism in the last decade is now clearly visible. He said, “Today we can proudly say that there has been a 73 percent reduction in deaths of security personnel. “Also, there has been a 70 percent reduction in civilian deaths in areas considered to be Naxal strongholds.” Shah also said that in the last one year, 277 Naxalites have been killed, 992 Naxalites have been arrested and 837 Naxalites have surrendered.
These figures show that the policy and strategies of the Government of India against Naxalism have definitely given huge positive results. The security situation has improved especially in Naxal affected areas like Chhattisgarh. Shah also made it clear that now the campaign against Naxalites will be intensified, and by 2026 this problem will be completely solved.
appeal for surrender
Amit Shah made an emotional appeal to the people of Naxal-affected areas of Bastar and Chhattisgarh. He said, “Today I want to tell all the people associated with Naxalism that they should not go on the wrong path and contribute to the progress of the society by joining the mainstream. Surrender and help in the development of the country.”
This appeal was not only for the Naxalites, but also for those who had come to this path under the influence of Naxalism. Shah expressed hope from the people of Bastar that they will stand firmly against the Naxalites and along with the government will help in winning this fight.
Amit Shah’s visit to Chhattisgarh
Amit Shah is on a tour of Chhattisgarh these days. His tour will continue till 16 December. During this visit, he will chair a high-level security review meeting in the state capital Raipur. In this meeting, the security situation in Chhattisgarh will be discussed and new strategies will be considered to deal with Naxalism.
Apart from this, Amit Shah will also visit Jagdalpur, where he will interact with the surrendered Maoists, local residents and intellectuals. The purpose of this visit is not only to assess the security arrangements but also to strongly implement the plans and efforts of the government against Naxalism in Chhattisgarh.
Bastar Olympics and Naxalism
The Bastar Olympics 2024 were held in the Naxalism-hit Bastar region, and were aimed at uniting the local people through sports. This Olympics was not only a sporting event but also a cultural and social step against Naxalism. Regarding this event, the Union Home Minister said, “Bastar Olympics has proved that the people here are not afraid of Naxalism, they are moving on the path of their development and are also winning in sports.”
Government’s strategy on Naxalism
The Indian government’s strategy against Naxalism has focused on increased deployment of security forces, use of advanced technological measures, and cooperation with local communities. The government has ensured that the fight against Naxalites is not limited to the security forces only, but the local people are also involved.
Apart from this, the government has also formulated a rehabilitation policy for the surrendered Maoists, under which they are given opportunities for social and economic reconstruction. This step is important to bring Naxalites into the mainstream and is aimed at motivating them to give up violence and reintegrate with the society.
Causes and solutions of Naxalism
The roots of Naxalism are spread in many remote and backward areas of India. Poverty, unemployment, lack of education, and improper implementation of government schemes in these areas become the causes of Naxalism. However, the government is running several schemes to solve these problems, with emphasis on improving employment, education, and health services.
Along with this, better weapons, equipment and training are also being provided to the security forces to boost their morale. This multi-pronged strategy of the government against Naxalism is now showing results and it is expected that Naxalism will be eliminated from the country in the next few years.
Important step towards ending Naxalism
This statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah is indicative of the government’s firm policy against Naxalism. Shah made it clear that the government will take every possible step to deal with this problem. According to him, the priority of the government is to completely eliminate Naxalism in the next few years, and for this the government is working actively in all areas.
Public support for government’s policy against Naxalism
While on one hand there have been many improvements in the government’s policy against Naxalism, on the other hand support for this policy is increasing among the public. Especially in Naxal affected states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa, people are now taking part in the fight against Naxalism along with the government.
To win the war against Naxalism, tough decisions of the government, help of local administration and cooperation of the public are necessary. This is the path that will not only end Naxalism but will also take the country forward in a new direction of development.
