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Union Home Minister addresses the valedictory session of ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’ in New Delhi
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed the valedictory session of ‘Bharat Manthan-2025: Naxal Mukt Bharat – Ending Red Terror Under Modi’s Leadership’, organised by SPMRF in New Delhi on 28 September 2025. On the occasion, Shri Amit Shah said India will be free from Naxalism by March 31, 2026. He said the fight against Naxalism will not end until Indian society understands those who provide ideological, legal, and financial support to Naxalism. He emphasized that internal security and the protection of the nation’s borders have always been a core part of our ideology. He further said that three key objectives have been central to our party’s mission: internal and external security of the country, cultural nationalism, and the revival of all aspects of Indian culture. Union Home Minister paid his respects to all those who sacrificed their lives, lost their loved ones, and endured physical and mental hardships due to Left-wing violence since the 1960s.
Left-Wing Corridor
Shri Amit Shah said when Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took office, three major hotspots—Jammu & Kashmir, the Northeast, and the Left-Wing Corridor—had severely disrupted the country’s internal security. He said that for nearly four to five decades, thousands of people had lost their lives due to the unrest that emerged and spread in these three regions, there was significant property damage, a large portion of the country’s budget was diverted from the development of the poor to managing these hotspots, and security forces also suffered immense loss of life. He stated that upon becoming Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi focused on these three hotspots and worked based on a clear, long-term strategy.
A significant transformation occurred during last 10-year
Union Home Minister said that a significant transformation has occurred during the 10-year tenure of the Modi government. He stated that Naxalism and armed rebellion began in the early 1970s. In 1971, independent India witnessed a peak of 3,620 violent incidents. Subsequently, in the 1980s, the People’s War Group expanded its reach to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Kerala. He added that after the 1980s, Left-wing groups started merging with each other, and in 2004, the major CPI (Maoist) group was formed, leading to Naxal violence taking a very serious form. He said that the corridor from Pashupati to Tirupati was known as the Red Corridor.
17 percent of the country’s territory was encompassed by the Red Corridor
Shri Amit Shah said 17 percent of the country’s territory was encompassed by the Red Corridor, affecting a population of 120 million. At that time, 10 percent of the population was living under the scourge of Naxalism. Shri Shah said that in comparison, the other two hotspots—Kashmir, with 1 percent of the country’s territory affected by terrorism, and the Northeast, with 3.3 percent of the territory grappling with unrest—were less extensive. He said that when Shri Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, the Modi government began working on the three aspects of dialogue, security, and coordination. As a result, by March 31, 2026, armed Naxalism will be eradicated from the country.
Significant policy change
He said earlier work was done with a scattered approach, responses were incident-based and there was no permanent policy. In a way, one could say the steering of the government’s response was in the hands of the Naxalites. Shri Shah said after 2014 the steering of the government’s campaigns and programmes rests with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and this is a very significant policy change.
Shri Amit Shah said that instead of a scattered approach, the Modi government has adopted a unified and ruthless approach. For the first time, the Government of India adopted a clear policy without any confusion. He said the state police and central security forces were given freedom, and a practical bridge was built between the Government of India and the state governments for coordination in intelligence, information sharing, and operations. He added that strict control was imposed on the supply of arms and ammunition of Naxalites. After 2019, we have succeeded in blocking more than 90 per cent of their supply. He said that the NIA and the ED have tightened the noose around those who finance the Naxalites, and that we have also fought against urban Naxal support, their legal aid networks, and the crafting of media narratives. He said we took targeted action against members of the central committee, and more than 18 central committee members have been neutralized from August 19 to this date.
Between 2014 and 2024, 12,000 km of roads constructed in Left-Wing affected states
Union Home Minister said that between 2014 and 2024, 12,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed in Left-Wing Extremism–affected states, budgets have been approved for 17,500 roads, and 5,000 mobile towers have been installed at a cost of Rs. 6,300 crore. He said that 1,060 bank branches have been opened, 937 ATMs installed, 37,850 banking correspondents appointed, 5,899 post offices opened, 850 schools established, and 186 well-equipped health centres set up. He further said under the NiyadNellanar scheme, the Chhattisgarh government is working on approving Ayushman Bharat cards, Aadhaar cards, voter cards, the construction of schools, ration shops, and Anganwadi centres.
Shri Shah said even in Jammu & Kashmir, Article 370 was abrogated in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. After that, the government systematically earned the trust of the people through development, education, health, and poverty alleviation initiatives. He said in the face of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir, the Modi government acted under a well-planned policy. Shri Shah stated that compared to 7,300 violent incidents during 2004–2014, there were 1,800 violent incidents in 2014–2024. Deaths of security personnel decreased by 65 per cent and civilian deaths by 77 per cent. He added that every law of the country is now being implemented there. For the first time since independence, Panchayat elections were held in Jammu & Kashmir, with a voter turnout of 99.8 per cent. Shri Shah said we are gradually moving forward on the path to resolving the problem of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.
Highlights
-I pay my respects to all those who sacrificed their lives, lost their loved ones, and endured physical and mental hardships due to Left-wing violence since the 1960s.
-Those with weapons in their hands are not concerned about tribals but about keeping alive a Leftist ideology rejected worldwide.
-The sole reason for the lack of development in Naxal-affected areas is Naxalism itself.
-Until the people providing ideological nourishment, legal support, and financial backing to Naxalism are exposed, the menace of Naxalism will not end.
-There was a time when the slogan of the Red Corridor stretching from Pashupatinath to Tirupati caused concern, but today, people laugh when it is mentioned.
-Naxalism thrived in West Bengal until the Left parties came to power, and as soon as they did, Naxalism disappeared from there.
-For those who lay down their arms, there is a red carpet, but it is the government’s duty to protect innocent tribals from Naxalite violence.
-The rising number of surrenders indicates that the time left for Naxalites is running out.
-The Modi government promotes a policy of surrender, but a bullet will be met with a bullet.
-During Operation Black Forest, Leftist political parties wrote letters pleading to stop the campaign, exposing their true face.