UNION Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, has affirmed the Government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism from India by March 2026, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah made this declaration during a press conference at the MayFair Lake Resort in Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, following a review meeting on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and an inter-state coordination meeting with Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police from Chhattisgarh and neighboring States. Shah emphasised that the fight against LWE has reached a decisive phase, and the Government is resolute in its goal to eliminate Naxalism entirely within the next two years. “We must now double the speed and intensity of our efforts compared to when the operations against Naxalism first began; only with such determination can we fully eradicate this issue from our nation,” Shah stated.

 

He outlined the Modi Government’s three-pronged strategy to combat LWE, focusing on development, prosecution, and operational efforts. These measures, according to Shah, have significantly diminished the Naxalite threat, which is now confined to a few pockets in Chhattisgarh. He credited the progress to the BJP-led Government’s intensified efforts in the State over the past eight months, which have resulted in the highest number of Naxalites being neutralised, surrendering, or apprehended. Shah commended Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Home Minister Vijay Sharma for their effective handling of the Naxal issue. He contrasted their success with the slower progress made under the previous Congress Government, asserting that the current BJP administration has accelerated the campaign against LWE. Shah also announced that the Chhattisgarh Government would soon introduce a new surrender policy for Naxalites, with details expected within the next two months. Furthermore, Shah called for the training and preparation of Special Investigation Agencies (SIA) in the States, suggesting they be modeled after the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He stressed the importance of bringing extremists who have crossed a point of no return to justice as part of the broader effort to control extremism.

 

He urged Naxalites to abandon violence and embrace the development initiatives spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi. He mentioned that the Chhattisgarh Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, would develop a policy to provide education for those who have been rendered illiterate due to LWE activities. Additionally, Shah highlighted the need to dismantle the entire ecosystem that supports LWE, calling for a ruthless and comprehensive approach from all states. In Chhattisgarh, Shah pointed out, 14 top Naxal commanders have been neutralised during the BJP Government’s eight-month tenure in the State. He described Leftist extremism as the greatest challenge to India’s democratic system, noting that around 17,000 people have lost their lives in Naxal-related incidents over the past 40 years. Since the Modi Government took office, the Naxal problem has been acknowledged as a significant challenge, with efforts made to steer Naxalites away from violence while also prioritising the development of areas affected by Leftist extremism. Shah highlighted several achievements in the fight against Naxalism, including a reduction in deaths, which in 2022 were at their lowest in four decades.