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The Prime Minister accused the previous Congress-led governments of ignoring the problem and allowing the rise of so-called “urban Naxals”
File photo of PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India is on the brink of being completely free from Maoist terror, and it is his guarantee that the day is not far when the country will no longer face the threat of Naxalism.
Speaking at a media event in Delhi, PM Modi highlighted the significant progress made in the last decade in curbing Left Wing Extremism. He said the number of districts affected by Maoist violence has dropped from around 125 eleven years ago to just three today.
“Eleven years ago, approximately 125 districts across the country were affected by Maoist terrorism. Today, that number has been significantly reduced to just 11 districts. Of these, only three remain severely impacted by Maoist influence,” he said.
“To put this into perspective, in the past 75 hours alone: 303 Naxalites have laid down their arms. These were not ordinary individuals; they carried bounties worth lakhs on their heads,” he added.
The Prime Minister accused the previous Congress-led governments of ignoring the problem and allowing the rise of so-called “urban Naxals”, who, he claimed, censored information and prevented the public from knowing the extent of Maoist violence.
“This is why my government has taken particular efforts to reach out to these wayward youth and bring them back into the mainstream. Today, the country is seeing the result of these efforts,” he said.
PM Modi described the long-lasting impact of Naxal violence in tribal and rural areas, where development was blocked. “These Naxals would not allow schools or hospitals to be built… they would not let doctors enter clinics… they would bomb institutions. Maoist terrorism was an injustice to the young people,” he said.
He recalled the terror once reported from areas like Bastar in Chhattisgarh and contrasted it with today’s reality, where youth are participating in sporting events like the Bastar Olympics. “Earlier, the headlines were about vehicles blown up in Bastar and security personnel killed. Today, the youth there are organising ‘Bastar Olympics’. This is a big change,” he said.
PM Modi also said that regions previously under Maoist control will now finally see the lights of Diwali after 60-70 years.
In a broader address, he said India is no longer silent in the face of terrorism and now responds strongly with air and surgical strikes. He also spoke about the government’s commitment to reforms, saying they are being pursued with conviction, not compulsion.
He concluded by saying, “India has proved everyone wrong on digital financial infrastructure. World sees India as reliable, responsible, resilient partner and land of opportunities.”
(With inputs from PTI)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
October 17, 2025, 11:24 pm IST
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