Amit Shah: Naxalism will end by March 2026; ask Maoists to surrender arms

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Indian government aims to completely eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026. He asked the Maoists to stop using violence and give up their weapons. He stressed that the government is dedicated to stopping Naxal violence and their beliefs in India.

Addressing 55 victims of Naxal violence, Shah stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that Naxal violence will be wiped out from the country He promised the victims that the government would achieve this goal before the deadline. Shah was sure that ending Naxalism would help bring peace to India.

The Home Minister talked about what the government has done to fight Naxalism, saying that it is mostly under control except in four areas in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. He mentioned that the Maoists used to want to build a route from Pashupatinath in Nepal to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, but the Modi government has stopped that plan.

Support and progress in the fight against Naxalism

Besides promising to end Naxalism, Shah announced a support program for people affected by Naxal violence in Chhattisgarh. He assured the victims that the Union Home Ministry would work with the state government to help them with jobs and healthcare. Shah said, “We will assist you in every way we can through our support programs.”

The security forces are working harder to fight Naxalism and have seen good results in 2024. Data shows that 164 Maoists have been killed in operations this year, with 142 of those deaths happening in Chhattisgarh in the first half of 2024. Most of these deaths—about 90%—occurred in the Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district, which is new and borders Maharashtra.

Shah talked about how important the security forces are in the fight against Naxalism and praised them for their work in weakening the Maoists in affected areas. He promised that the government would keep working to protect and support the victims of Naxal violence. Shah also urged the Maoists to stop fighting and choose peace instead.

In summary, Amit Shah’s announcement marks a strong commitment from the Indian government to eliminate Naxalism by 2026, while also focusing on the welfare of those impacted by this violence. The ongoing operations and planned support for victims aim to bring lasting peace to regions affected by Naxalism in India.

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