Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Indian government has completely eradicated Naxalism from the country, declaring India Naxal-free.
This declaration marks the end of a long-standing internal security challenge that has affected rural and tribal regions for decades. The removal of the insurgency is intended to open these areas to full administrative control and economic integration.
Shah said the goal was achieved before a March 31 deadline [1]. He attributed the success to the valour of security forces and a comprehensive development blueprint designed for former Naxal-affected areas [2], [3].
The Home Minister said that the operation saw cooperation from several non-BJP state governments [3]. However, he excluded the previous Congress government in Chhattisgarh from this list of cooperative partners [2], [3].
Specific reference was made to the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, a historical stronghold for the insurgency [2], [4]. The government's strategy combined security operations with infrastructure, and social development to stabilize the region.
Reports on the exact timing of the announcement vary between Monday and Tuesday [1], [2]. Regardless of the specific day, the government maintains that the security objective has been met through a coordinated national effort [3].
“India is now Naxal-free”
The declaration of a Naxal-free India represents a significant political and security claim by the current administration. By tying the success to a specific deadline and a development blueprint, the government is shifting its focus from counter-insurgency to the long-term socio-economic integration of marginalized tribal belts, particularly in Chhattisgarh. The explicit mention of state-level cooperation and the exclusion of previous political leadership underscores the internal political dynamics surrounding national security achievements.
