RAIPUR: The time has come to deal a “ruthless final blow” to left-wing extremism and liberate the country from this scourge by March 2026, Union home minister Amit Shah said in Raipur on Saturday.
Shah, who arrived here on a two-day tour to review security operations and development strategy in Maoist-affected states, said: “Between 2019 and 2024, many states have been liberated of the LWE (left wing extremism) tag – Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, MP and, to an extent Maharashtra.Only one district in Maharashtra is still affected. This is a massive achievement for the govt of India.”
Shah said it was “particularly satisfying” to see Chhattisgarh home minister Vijay Sharma visiting Maoist commander Hidma’s village Puwarti in Sukma and distributing Aadhaar cards and Ayushman Bharat cards to villagers.
Due to PM Modi’s strategy, people in MP’s Chandameta village and six villages in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma could vote in the elections for the first time in 40 years, he said.
The Union minister said that 189 Maoists have been “neutralised” in Chhattisgarh, which accounts for 90% of LWE-affected area, this year from Jan till date.
Chhattisgarh is the best performing state in tackling Maoists this year, he said while praising CM Vishnudeo Sai and his deputies Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao. As many as 559 Maoists were arrested this year so far while 540 surrendered. He said that 47 special forces camps have been set up and 16 more will be set up in the coming months.
Shah urged Maoists to take up the “new-look surrender policy” that will be unveiled by Chhattisgarh govt in one or two months.
“Our aim was to establish rule of law in these areas by getting Maoists to give up arms, and engaging those who don’t,” he said.
Shah, who arrived here on a two-day tour to review security operations and development strategy in Maoist-affected states, said: “Between 2019 and 2024, many states have been liberated of the LWE (left wing extremism) tag – Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, MP and, to an extent Maharashtra.Only one district in Maharashtra is still affected. This is a massive achievement for the govt of India.”
Shah said it was “particularly satisfying” to see Chhattisgarh home minister Vijay Sharma visiting Maoist commander Hidma’s village Puwarti in Sukma and distributing Aadhaar cards and Ayushman Bharat cards to villagers.
Due to PM Modi’s strategy, people in MP’s Chandameta village and six villages in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma could vote in the elections for the first time in 40 years, he said.
The Union minister said that 189 Maoists have been “neutralised” in Chhattisgarh, which accounts for 90% of LWE-affected area, this year from Jan till date.
Chhattisgarh is the best performing state in tackling Maoists this year, he said while praising CM Vishnudeo Sai and his deputies Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao. As many as 559 Maoists were arrested this year so far while 540 surrendered. He said that 47 special forces camps have been set up and 16 more will be set up in the coming months.
Shah urged Maoists to take up the “new-look surrender policy” that will be unveiled by Chhattisgarh govt in one or two months.
“Our aim was to establish rule of law in these areas by getting Maoists to give up arms, and engaging those who don’t,” he said.