‘Armed Naxals Are Gone, But…’: PM Modi Warns Of Dimaagi Naxals At Bastar Diwali Meeting With Security Forces

Last Updated:November 08, 2026, 1:12 PM IST

“The Naxalites had even snatched away people’s right to cast their votes,” he said, describing the fight against Maoist violence as a difficult one.

PM Modi cited the 2010 Dantewada attacks, in which 76 CRPF personnel and 44 civilians were killed in separate incidents, to underline the scale of the Naxal threat. (IMAGE: ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared that while armed Naxalism had been eliminated from the country’s jungles, “dimaagi Naxals” continued to operate from within cities, political parties and organisations, attempting to turn people against India’s Constitution and democracy.

Spending Diwali with security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, Modi called for these ideological Naxals to be identified, alleging that they had infiltrated political parties and various organisations and were still trying to incite people against the country’s democratic institutions.

“The Naxals have been eliminated from jungles, but ideological Naxals are still trying to incite people,” the Prime Minister said, referring to them as “dimaagi Naxals”.

He alleged that these elements were active even after the armed Maoist threat had been brought under control. “Even today, they are instigating people against the country’s Constitution and democracy. These ideological Naxals have infiltrated several political parties and various organisations. We must identify them,” he said.

Modi Says Previous Governments Had Tied Hands Of Security Forces

The Prime Minister also accused previous governments of restricting the freedom of security forces to act against Naxalites, saying personnel had not been given a free hand to respond to attacks.

He said his government had given security forces complete freedom to take necessary decisions in the fight against Left-Wing Extremism, while also working to dismantle support for the movement from within the system.

PM Modi said the government had broken the backbone of Maoist terror while maintaining sensitivity towards people living in Naxal-affected regions. He added that efforts had been made to transform their lives and bring them into the mainstream.

The Prime Minister also credited people affected by Naxalism for standing with the government and security forces, expressing gratitude to everyone who had contributed to the campaign against Left-Wing Extremism.

Modi Credits Political Will Since 2014 For Fight Against Naxalism

PM Modi said the country had witnessed a significant change in the security situation after 2014, crediting the government’s political resolve and the courage of security forces.

“To take the country forward, we must confront and defeat the enemies of the nation with strong determination and a well-planned strategy. The political will that was lacking in the country to do this was strengthened in 2014,” the Prime Minister said, according to DD.

He added that, for a long time, more security personnel had been killed than Naxalites, but the situation had changed.

“For the first time in 47 years, something remarkable happened: not a single CRPF jawan lost his life while on duty during the past year,” Modi said.

“This is a victory for the country’s right policies and strong determination. This is a victory for your valour, courage and restraint,” he added.

PM Modi Recalls Naxal Violence, Says People Were Denied Right To Vote

The Prime Minister cited figures from 2004 to 2013 to criticise previous governments for their handling of Naxalism, alleging that they had treated the problem as an incurable disease.

“If you look at the figures from 2004 to 2013, you will find that every year, the number of our brave soldiers martyred was higher than the number of Naxalites killed. Unfortunately, the governments of that time treated Naxalism as an incurable disease and left it unaddressed,” he said.

Recalling the scale of violence in the region, Modi said there had been as many as 2,000 Naxal attacks in a single year. He referred to the 2010 Dantewada attacks, in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed in an encounter with Naxalites and 44 civilians lost their lives in another incident.

“This land was soaked in the blood of our brave soldiers. But not a single voice of anguish was heard from those influential leaders living in their palaces. Not a single tear was shed by them,” he said.

Modi further claimed that more than 1,000 security personnel had been killed in Chhattisgarh during the period, adding that attacks had continued almost daily for decades.

“The Naxalites had even snatched away people’s right to cast their votes,” he said, describing the fight against Maoist violence as a difficult one.

PM Modi Visits CoBRA Base, Thanks Security Personnel

PM Modi also visited the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, which served as a training centre and launch pad for anti-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad.

The Prime Minister said he had come to Bastar on behalf of the country’s 140 crore people to acknowledge the sacrifices made by security personnel.

“I have also come here on behalf of 140 crore countrymen to express our gratitude for your sacrifice, dedication and spirit of service,” he said.

Drawing a link between internal and external security, Modi said a strong internal security framework was essential to protecting the country from external threats.

“When a nation’s internal security is strong, external enemies cannot succeed. However, when internal security is weakened, external enemies also begin to raise their heads,” he said.

Comparing the role of security personnel deployed within the country with that of armed forces guarding the borders, he said both had made immense sacrifices for India’s unity and integrity.

“Crores of countrymen are proud of you. With this sense of gratitude and belonging, I extend my heartfelt Diwali greetings to all of you, wherever you are stationed and standing guard,” he added.

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What did PM Modi say about armed Naxals and ‘dimaagi Naxals’ at Bastar?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that while armed Naxals have been eliminated from the country’s jungles, ideological or ‘dimaagi Naxals’ continue to operate from within cities, political parties, and various organisations to incite people against India’s Constitution and democracy.

What milestone did CRPF personnel achieve regarding safety during duty?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that for the first time in 47 years, not a single CRPF jawan lost their life while on duty over the past year, attributing this to correct policies and strong determination.

How did PM Modi describe the security forces’ freedom under previous governments?

PM Modi accused previous governments of tying the hands of security forces and restricting their freedom to act against Naxalites, whereas his administration gave them complete freedom to tackle Left-Wing Extremism.

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About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More

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