Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday addressed a press conference after chairing a key meeting on anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. During the press conference, he stated that the Prime Minister Narenda Modi-led government "will free India from Naxal violence by March 2026." He said the time has come to carry out the final attack on the leftism and naxalism by a well-planned an strong strategy.
Naxalism has posed a major challenge for India and its democratic system, and has claimed lives of nearly 17,000 people in the last four decades, Shah said. The Union minister said that ever since BJP came to power at the Centre, the party took this as a challenge and has tried to "bring those who have weapons in the hands into the mainstream".
"100% saturation of Central govt and Chhattisgarh govt's schemes in the naxal affected areas, progress of infrastructure projects in such areas and to remove the challenges faced during such projects, this meeting was for that. Time has come to carry out the final assault with a ruthless strategy to tackle the naxalism and leftism," he said.
"In the first 10 years, 6617 security personnel and citizens were killed and now there has been a 70% reduction...I believe that our fight has reached the end phase and by March 2026, we will be able to free the country completely from naxalism," Shah said as he assured to eradicate Naxalism from the country.
On being questioned about the long-pending population census, Shah said: "It will done at the appropriate time...once decided, I will announce how it will happen and when it will happen".
Amit Shah
Earlier today, Amit Shah also attended an inter-state coordination meeting with Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Secretaries, and Director Generals of Police of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states in Raipur. Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, Union MoS home Nityanand Rai, and Union secretary Govind Mohan also attended the meeting.
The chief secretaries and police chiefs of the states affected by Naxalism, and director generals of police of central paramilitary forces, were also present among other senior officers from the security establishment.