Amit Shah Declares Bastar Free from Maoism as India Celebrates Regional Transformation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that India is now declared “Naxal-free,” highlighting the sacrifices of security forces in combating Maoism during his address at the ‘Ujar Bastar’ programme in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh. He urged the local populace to accept approximately 3,000 surrendered Naxals into society and emphasized plans to integrate them into the mainstream. Shah outlined a commitment from the Narendra Modi government to offer rehabilitation and support to these individuals as part of broader community rebuilding efforts.

Shah detailed a roadmap for development in Bastar, aiming to restore the region’s lost progress over the next three to five years. He credited security personnel for their bravery and dedication in achieving this objective, reflecting on the extensive bloodshed and suffering experienced by the public over the decades-long conflict. The Minister asserted that the country had overcome significant security challenges, including issues in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, since 2014 when the current government came to power.

In addition to security measures, Shah inaugurated the first of 70 planned public service centres at former security camps, which aim to provide essential facilities to local tribal populations. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that these communities receive the same level of public services as urban areas, countering the narrative created by Naxalites about the lack of development. The initiative seeks to foster a brighter future for the children of Bastar by integrating them into the wider socio-economic framework of the country.