Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday, declaring that every district in the country was now free from Naxalism. He described the occasion as a historic milestone after decades of Maoist violence.
Addressing personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB and state police forces, Modi thanked them for their sacrifice and dedication.
He also highlighted that no CRPF personnel had lost their life while on duty in the past year, calling it the first such achievement in 47 years.
Recalling the period when Left-Wing Extremism affected more than 230 districts across nearly 20 states, Modi referred to the 2010 Dantewada attacks in which 76 CRPF personnel and 44 civilians were killed in separate incidents.
The Prime Minister credited stronger security operations, action against extremist funding networks and disruption of weapons supplies for weakening Maoist organisations.
He stressed that security measures had been supported by development initiatives, including over 15,000 km of roads, 9,500 mobile towers, nearly 175 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, around 50 ITIs and 50 skill development centres in affected areas.
Modi also referred to a World Bank report, saying around 50 crore Indians had moved out of extreme poverty over the past 12 years, crediting welfare schemes such as Jan Dhan, PM Awas Yojana and Ayushman Bharat.
Citing the Bastar Olympics as a sign of change, he said children were now choosing sports instead of guns.
He urged security personnel and citizens to work towards a drug-free, self-reliant and developed India, adding that the end of Naxalism was a new beginning for the country.
