Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that Naxalism has been almost eliminated from Bastar and that the region is now on a “path of progress,” highlighting the government’s efforts to boost development in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.
Replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on ‘Efforts to free the country from left-wing extremism (LWE)’, Shah questioned the Congress over why tribal communities in the region remained “deprived of development” during its tenure.
Shah said that under Congress rule, the people of Bastar had lagged behind on development indicators as “the shadow of Red Terror loomed” over the area, implying that Modi government’s interventions have reversed that trend.
#WATCH | Delhi: Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the fight against Naxalism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “…Out of the 75 years since independence, power remained in your (Congress) hands for 60 years. Why, then, have the tribal communities remained deprived of development… pic.twitter.com/wv2wvkcJJ1
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2026
“Today, Naxalism has been almost eradicated from Bastar. A campaign was launched to establish a school in every single village across Bastar. A drive was undertaken to open a ration shop in every village within the region. Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) have been established in every Tehsil and Panchayat. Aadhaar cards and ration cards have been issued to the people, and they are now receiving five kilograms of food grains,” he said.
“I simply wish to ask those who were here advocating on behalf of Naxalism: Why have the people not received these benefits till now?… The people of Bastar were left behind precisely because the shadow of ‘Red Terror’ loomed over the region; that is why development failed to reach them. Today, that shadow has been lifted, and Bastar is now on the path of development,” he added.
Sharply criticising the Congress for failing to develop tribal areas during its rule, Shah said, “Out of the 75 years since independence, power remained in your hands for 60 years. Why, then, have the tribal communities remained deprived of development to this day? It is only now, with the arrival of Narendra Modi, that actual development is taking place.”
He accused the Congress of failing to provide basic facilities to tribal populations, including housing, clean water, schools, mobile connectivity, and banking services.
“For sixty years, you failed to provide them with homes or access to clean water; you built no schools for them; you prevented mobile towers and banking facilities from reaching their areas, and yet, now you are the ones demanding accountability?” he added.
Shah credited the success against the Maoists to the Central Armed Police Forces, especially the courageous personnel of Cobra and CRPF, as well as security agencies, Chhattisgarh Police, DRG units, and the local tribal communities.
He said there can be no justification for violence and demands should be raised through constitutional methods.
“To those who are acting as advocates for an armed movement, saying they fought against injustice. I ask: Will you respect the Constitution, or will you not? If anyone faces injustice, Courts have been established; legislative assemblies, district councils, and tehsil have been constituted. I want to say that era is over. This is the government of Narendra Modi. Anyone who takes up arms will be held accountable. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated. The government is sensitive to these issues; it is willing to listen to all grievances and is committed to resolving them…,” said the home minister.
The Home Minister said twelve crore people lived in poverty for years due to Naxalism and thousands of young lives were lost.
“The root cause of Naxalism is not the demand for development. It is an ideology–an ideology that Indira Ji embraced back in 1970 in order to win the presidential election. Naxalism has spread precisely because of this Leftist ideology,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the fight against Naxalism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “…The root cause of Naxalism is not the demand for development. It is an ideology—an ideology that Indira Ji embraced back in 1970 in order to win the presidential… pic.twitter.com/AsedQrQC3G
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2026
“Twelve states- Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Bengal, Kerala, parts of Karnataka, and three districts of Uttar Pradesh were affected. A complete ‘Red Corridor’ was formed, and the rule of law ended there. Twelve crore people lived in poverty for years, and no one showed any concern. Thousands of young lives were lost. Many were left permanently disabled or crippled for the rest of their lives. Who is responsible for this?” he asked.
The debate was held a day before the deadline declared by Shah for the elimination of Naxal violence.
Last year, Shah had announced that the LWE would end in the country by March 31, 2026, and a major operation had been organised against the Naxals.
Be it in Naxal-affected areas, Jammu and Kashmir or the Northeast, the Modi government will not tolerate any kind of violence and will take strong action against anyone indulging in such acts, the home minister asserted in the Lok Sabha.
With inputs from agencies
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