Modi warns of ideological Naxal threat after celebrating Diwali in Bastar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that ideological supporters of extremism continue to pose a threat despite the removal of armed Maoists from forests. While celebrating Diwali with Central Reserve Police Force personnel at a camp in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district on Sunday, he alleged that these elements had infiltrated various political parties and organisations to provoke citizens against the Constitution and democracy.

Past Conflict

Recalling past challenges, the Prime Minister noted that Left-Wing Extremism previously affected over 230 districts across nearly 20 states, leading to roughly 2,000 annual attacks. He criticized previous administrations between 2004 and 2013 for treating the issue as incurable and failing to grant security forces operational freedom. According to government figures, the central administration officially declared the country free of Naxalism on March 31, 2026, and noted that the past year marked the first time in 47 years that no CRPF personnel died on duty.

Government Action

Mr. Modi highlighted that strict measures dismantled fake currency networks and choked financial and weapon supply lines. Beyond security operations, he pointed to broader achievements, including a World Bank finding that 50 crore people escaped extreme poverty over the past 12 years alongside major infrastructure and welfare rollouts.

Context

Left-Wing Extremism has been a major internal security challenge in India for decades, particularly in remote forested regions like Bastar. Recent years have seen intense security campaigns and development drives aimed at ending armed insurgencies in these areas.