PM Modi Celebrates “Naxal-Free” Diwali in Bastar, Warns of “Dimagi Naxals”
RAIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked this year’s Diwali festivities at the Karanpur camp in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, signaling a symbolic and strategic victory for the nation. Addressing security personnel, the Prime Minister declared that for the first time in nearly five decades, the country is celebrating the festival of lights with every district officially free from the shadow of Maoist insurgency.
A Historic Milestone in Internal Security
The Bastar region, which was once the epicenter of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), was declared free of Naxalism on March 31. Reflecting on the monumental progress, PM Modi highlighted that the country has finally overcome a decades-long conflict that had crippled development across 20 states.
“This is a historic Diwali,” the Prime Minister remarked, noting that it was the first such celebration where the nation is entirely devoid of the Maoist threat. He lauded the CRPF for a remarkable operational feat, revealing that for the first time in 47 years, the force concluded a year without a single casualty in the line of duty.
Recalling the darkest days of the insurgency, the Prime Minister pointed to the 2010 Dantewada massacre, where 76 security personnel were killed, as a testament to the scale of the challenge. He lamented that for years, previous administrations treated such violence as an inevitable reality, effectively abandoning vulnerable tribal communities to their fate.
The Shift: Political Will and Development
PM Modi attributed the success of the anti-insurgency campaign to the decisive political will demonstrated by his government since 2014. He noted that by granting security forces greater operational autonomy and disrupting the financial pipelines that fueled insurgent networks, the state was able to dismantle the infrastructure of terror.
Beyond military measures, the government prioritized bringing the marginalized regions into the mainstream. The Prime Minister underscored that insurgency had acted as a barrier to basic amenities like schools, hospitals, and connectivity. To counter this, the administration has rolled out extensive infrastructure projects, including the construction of 15,000 kilometers of roads and the installation of 9,500 mobile towers. Furthermore, the focus on education and economic empowerment has seen the opening of 175 Eklavya residential schools and numerous vocational training centers in these historically neglected areas.
The Warning: The Rise of “Dimagi Naxals”
Despite the eradication of armed insurgency, the Prime Minister issued a stern warning against a new, emerging threat. He cautioned that while the physical guns have been silenced, the ideology persists through what he termed “Dimagi Naxals” (Intellectual Naxals).
PM Modi alleged that these elements have infiltrated political parties and various organizations, where they actively work to instigate the public against the Constitution and democratic values. He stressed that these individuals act as a hidden menace, attempting to sustain the spirit of extremism even when the armed cadres have been dismantled.
“The threat hasn’t disappeared; it has merely changed its face,” the Prime Minister said, calling upon the nation to remain vigilant. He concluded by emphasizing that safeguarding India’s future now requires identifying and neutralizing these intellectual provocateurs who seek to undermine the unity and integrity of the country from within.
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