Naxal menace near end: PM Modi says affected districts drop from 125 to 3

Raipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the number of districts affected by Maoist violence in India has dropped from 125 to just three in the last 11 years, asserting that the country is on the verge of eliminating the Naxal menace entirely. Speaking at multiple events in Chhattisgarh, Modi said the state is now breaking free from decades of Naxal violence and entering a new era of peace and progress.

Addressing the ‘Chhattisgarh Rajat Mahotsav’ in Nava Raipur, organised to mark 25 years of the state’s formation, Modi hailed Chhattisgarh’s development journey, comparing its transformation to a “vat vriksh” or banyan tree that has grown over the years. He said those who previously ruled the country deprived tribal areas of basic infrastructure and opportunities while exploiting their struggles for political gain.

The prime minister noted that many Maoists, including top commanders carrying huge cash rewards, have surrendered in recent months. “Earlier in October, more than 200 Maoists laid down arms in Bastar. They have now accepted the Constitution and chosen peace,” Modi said, adding that several development projects are transforming areas once notorious for insurgency.

He cited examples such as electricity reaching Chikapalli village for the first time in 70 years and the opening of a school in Rekawaya village in the Abujhmad region since Independence. The tricolour now flies proudly in Puvarti, a place once known as a Naxal stronghold, he said.

Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for projects worth Rs 14,260 crore across key sectors, including highways, healthcare, and energy. He unveiled the new Chhattisgarh legislative assembly building and a statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, emphasising that the Assembly should serve as a “vibrant centre for shaping the state’s destiny.”

Hailing India’s growing global role, Modi said the country has consistently acted as a first responder during international crises and remains a reliable partner to the world. Speaking at the inauguration of the Shanti Shikhar Centre of Brahma Kumaris in Nava Raipur, he said India is guided by the vision of global wellbeing and harmony, reflecting its spiritual values.

Linking the state’s progress to the national mission of Viksit Bharat, Modi said the government’s goal is to make India developed through the progress of its states. As part of this mission, he distributed house keys to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and announced a new target of building three crore more houses nationwide, after already delivering four crore.

During his visit, Modi also inaugurated the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum, launched the digital portal ‘Aadi Shourya,’ and unveiled a horse-mounted statue of Veer Narayan Singh. The museum, he said, will honour the sacrifices of tribal heroes and preserve their legacy.

Additionally, Modi launched 12 new Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme blocs across nine districts and released Rs 1,200 crore to three lakh rural housing beneficiaries under PM Awas Yojana (Gramin). He also laid the foundation for major road projects, including the four-lane Pathalgaon–Kunkuri highway under the Bharatmala scheme worth Rs 3,150 crore and the Narayanpur–Kasturmeta–Kutul–Nilangur–Maharashtra border highway spanning Bastar and Narayanpur districts.

Calling Chhattisgarh’s 25-year journey an inspiring story of resilience, Modi said the state has evolved from being seen as a centre of Naxal violence to becoming a symbol of security, stability, and progress.

With inputs from PTI