JAGDALPUR: Home minister Amit Shah, who wound up his first visit to this erstwhile 'Red' pocket borough since Left-wing extremism was eliminated, on Tuesday listed four dates as milestones in the journey to making Bastar Naxal-free. The first milestone is December 23, 2024, when a BJP government was elected in Chhattisgarh. The second is August 24, 2024, when the March 31, 2026, deadline for uprooting Naxalism was announced. The third is March 31, 2026, before which Naxalism was completely uprooted. The fourth is May 19, 2026, which marked the launch of an initiative aimed at doorstep delivery of all government benefits to the tribals of Bastar by repurposing security camps into one-stop public service centres.
Eradication of Naxalism
"It is a matter of great pride that Naxalism had been completely eradicated," Shah said. However, he added that a key obstacle in this journey until December 13, 2023, was the lack of cooperation from the erstwhile Congress government in Chhattisgarh headed by Bhupesh Baghel. "I can now say without any hesitation that while other non-BJP governments have cooperated in the fight against Naxalism, the Congress government in Chhattisgarh did not," he said at a press conference in Jagdalpur.
Government Efforts
"After the BJP government was elected in Chhattisgarh on December 13, 2024, we stepped up our efforts. On August 24, 2024, after reviewing the LWE situation at the annual conference of police chiefs of all states, March 31, 2026, was declared the deadline for making the country Naxalism-free. The goal was achieved before the deadline ended." The latest milestone he mentioned is May 19, 2026, when an initiative to create 70 Veer Saheed Gunda Dhur 'seva dera' (public service camps) and push integrated development across Bastar was launched.
Development vs. Naxalism
"Contrary to the narrative peddled by the left-leaning intelligentsia that Naxalism was due to the lack of development in affected areas, the reality is that Naxalism was an outcome of lack of development," he said. "There were far more backward areas in the country... why is it that Naxalism did not raise its head in these areas? The other areas eventually saw development, but Bastar remained backward with locals denied basic development..."
Integrated Development Initiative
"Now that Bastar is Naxal-free, an initiative to push integrated development has been launched... The aim is to compensate locals, denied benefits for the last five decades, with doorstep delivery of government schemes and benefits."
About the Author: Bharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the 'prime' political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India's neighbourhood.
