New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Lok Sabha that India is now effectively free from Left-Wing Extremism, asserting that Naxalism has been eradicated and will no longer persist in the country.
Replying to a discussion on efforts to eliminate Naxalism, Shah said the movement stemmed from ideology rather than socio-economic conditions. “Naxalism is the product of Left-wing ideology,” he stated, adding, “Naxalism did not spread because of poverty; rather, poverty spread because of Naxalism.”
He argued that the foundation of Communist movements in India was not rooted in justice but in opposition to democratic institutions, saying, “The Communist Party was not formed to oppose injustice but to oppose our parliamentary system.”
Calling the eradication of Naxalism a major milestone, Shah said, “A Naxal-free India is one of the biggest successes of the Modi government.” He credited security forces, including CRPF and CoBRA units, state police forces such as those in Chhattisgarh, and local tribal communities for achieving this outcome.
Shah also linked underdevelopment in regions like Bastar to prolonged insurgency. “Bastar had lagged behind in development because of the shadow of Red Terror. Now that the shadow has been removed, Bastar is progressing rapidly,” he said.
He maintained that Maoist groups exploited weak state presence in remote areas rather than addressing social injustice. “Maoists did not choose the Red Corridor to oppose discrimination, but because the government’s reach was weak there,” he added.
Reiterating the government’s firm stance, Shah said, “This is the Modi government—whoever picks up arms will have to face the consequences.” He clarified that dialogue would only be considered with those who surrender weapons, while violence would be met with strict action.
The Home Minister sharply criticised Left-wing ideology, saying its guiding principle was rooted in violence. “The guiding slogan of Left-wing ideology is not ‘Satyamev Jayate’, but ‘Power flows from the barrel of the gun’,” he remarked.
He also criticised sections of intellectuals for highlighting the rights of Naxalites while overlooking victims. “I have read many articles by intellectuals discussing the human rights of Naxalites, but not one about the mother whose child was forcibly taken away or the widows of martyrs,” he said.
Targeting the opposition, Shah alleged, “By associating with Naxalites, the main opposition party and its leaders have themselves become aligned with them,” adding that those supporting such movements are equally complicit in the violence.
He questioned past governance, pointing to the spread of insurgency across multiple states and asking why development failed to reach tribal populations during earlier decades. He also alleged that support from those in power enabled the expansion of the so-called Red Corridor.
Referring to the broader ideological battle, Shah said, “The objective of Left-wing ideology is to create a vacuum in the State, governance, Constitution, and security, and then carry out bloodshed—and this will no longer succeed.”
He further criticised the ideological inspirations of Maoist groups, stating that instead of Indian icons like Bhagwan Birsa Munda, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, or Subhas Chandra Bose, they had chosen Mao as their ideal.
Shah concluded by asserting that the era of armed insurgency has ended, adding that development is now reaching regions that were once cut off due to insurgent influence.
BI Bureau
