New Delhi, February 9: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reaffirmed the government's commitment to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)- Naxalism from India by March 31, 2026. His statement came after the successful operation in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, in which 31 Maoists were killed and a large cache of weapons and explosives was seized.
In his message, Home Minister Shah praised the security forces for their decisive action and expressed condolences for the two soldiers who lost their lives during the operation. On the social media platform X, he wrote: "The security forces have scored a significant victory in the fight against Naxalism, neutralizing 31 Naxalites and recovering a significant amount of arms and explosives."
Shah also acknowledged the sacrifice of the two brave soldiers, stating, "While eliminating the anti-human ideology of Naxalism, we have lost two courageous soldiers. The nation will forever remain grateful for their sacrifice." He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.
Referring to the recent progress made in Chhattisgarh, Shah highlighted the notable decline in Maoist activities over the past year, particularly with the neutralization of several high-ranking Maoist leaders. He lauded the strategic approach taken by the Chhattisgarh government and expressed confidence that the goal of a Naxal-free India would be realized by March 2026.
"The significant progress made in Chhattisgarh, under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, as well as the tireless efforts of the state police and other security agencies, has laid a strong foundation for this campaign. I am confident that we will succeed in eliminating LWE from the country by the target date," Shah affirmed.
Home Minister Shah also reflected on the broader vision for dealing with insurgent groups, noting that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed him as Home Minister in 2019, he emphasized the importance of offering armed groups the opportunity to surrender and lead peaceful lives.
"Since then, we have successfully signed 20 peace accords in the Northeast, and over 9,000 militants have laid down their arms," Shah noted.
He further revealed that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 15,000 homes would be provided to surrendered Maoists. Additionally, the National Dairy Development Board will offer a cow or buffalo to these families, enabling them to earn between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per month.
