Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today met with individuals from Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Assam at Jagdalpur in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, who have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of society. In his address following the meeting, Amit Shah highlighted that in 2019, youth in Kashmir, the Northeast, and Naxalism-affected areas were ruining their lives by taking up arms, engaging in violence, and keeping their regions deprived of development. He explained that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a decision was made to provide an opportunity for those willing to lay down their arms and reintegrate them into society. Shah shared that from 2019 to 2024, over 9,000 individuals in the Northeast alone have surrendered their weapons.

 

He also mentioned that many youths in Naxalism-affected areas have similarly joined the mainstream, and now the Government of India is formulating a comprehensive plan for the welfare of these individuals and those suffering from the impact of Naxalism. The Home Minister further revealed that Prime Minister Modi has approved the construction of 15,000 houses in Naxal-affected regions. Additionally, the government is launching a program to establish dairy cooperatives by providing one cow or buffalo to every family in these areas. The Union Home Minister said that after the formation of the government in Chhattisgarh last year, a commitment was made to make the state free from Naxalism. He emphasized that violence is not the solution, and those who have taken up arms must be reintegrated into society.

 

He praised the Chhattisgarh government’s surrender policy as one of the best, and expressed the intention to replicate this model nationwide, aiming to rehabilitate the youth who have laid down their arms and help them re-join the mainstream of society. Amit Shah urged the youth involved in violence to lay down their arms and embrace the mainstream of society. Speaking about the Bastar Olympics, he highlighted that the talented youth of Bastar represent the future of India. He emphasised that a process should be started to make the children of Bastar capable of winning medals from 2025 onwards till 2036 Olympics. Shah expressed that when a girl from Bastar wins a medal in the 2036 Olympics, it will serve as a powerful response to Naxalism and send a global message that development, not violence, is the path to success.

 

The Union Home Minister said that only a few areas remain affected by Naxalism. He emphasized that those involved in violence are also our own people. He highlighted that the citizens of the state require essential services like schools, dispensaries, hospitals, free food grains, electricity, toilets, and clean water, and it is the responsibility of the Chhattisgarh government to provide these facilities to every village. Shri Shah further mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Bastar is the top priority for all welfare schemes of the Central Government. He assured that those who have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of society have placed their trust in Prime Minister Modi, and that trust will not be broken. He also expressed confidence that seeing these individuals, many more youths will give up arms and choose the path of peace and development. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, BJP State President Kiran Singh Deo, Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department Manoj Pingua and other officials were also present.