New Delhi, March 31, IPU Media Update News : Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday that Naxalism in the country is on its last legs, and that they have successfully wiped out Naxalism from Bastar in Chhattisgarh a region historically known as a hotbed for Maoist violence. As the March 31st deadline set by the Modi government to eradicate Naxalism from the nation draws near, Amit Shah delivered a 90-minute address in the Lok Sabha on Monday regarding a “Naxal-Free India “. He stated that Bastar is now firmly on the path of development, and credited this achievement to the security forces, the state police, and the local tribal communities.

Naxalism has been almost completely wiped out from the country. We will inform the nation once this entire process is officially concluded. However, I can confidently state that our country has become Naxal-free,” he remarked. He asserted that those who reject the democratic system and take up arms will not be tolerated, and that such individuals will inevitably have to pay a heavy price.

He criticized the fact that tribal communities were kept in the dark for decades, and accused Leftists of misleading them in order to propagate their own ideology. He further alleged that the Congress party which governed the country for 60 to 75 years following independence had completely neglected the development of tribal communities. For six decades, the Congress party failed to provide homes, schools, or mobile towers to tribal communities. Yet, they now question us, asking, What have you done? Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked critically.

Amit Shah challenged those who advocate for Naxalism, demanding to know why they failed to achieve these developmental goals since the 1970s. He stated that Naxalism has been almost completely eradicated from the Bastar region, and measures are currently being implemented to establish schools in every village. He further noted that ration shops have been set up in every village, and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) as well as Community Health Centers (CHCs) have been established in every Tehsil Panchayat.

** Why Has Development Not Reached Tribal Hamlets -? **

Amit Shah questioned Naxal sympathizers as to why development failed to reach tribal hamlets in the decades following the country’s independence. Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the movement which began in Naxalbari with a Maoist ideology during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government spread across 12 states, occupied 17 percent of the country’s landmass, and impacted over 10 percent of the population.

** Comparing Naxalites to Bhagat Singh -? **

Amit Shah strongly condemned the act of comparing Naxalites to figures like Bhagat Singh or Birsa Munda. “What kind of audacity is this?” he demanded to know. He stated that while Bhagat Singh and Birsa Munda fought against the British rulers, Naxalites have violated the Constitution, taken up arms, and killed innocent people.

** 4,800 Naxals Surrender **

Amit Shah announced that, responding to the call issued by the Central Government, 4,800 Naxals have surrendered, and over 2,000 Naxals have been sent to prison. He alleged that Naxals have indoctrinated tribal communities to follow their ideology, and—fearing that educated tribals would no longer remain with them—have kept them away from schools, banks, and healthcare centers. He paid tribute to the thousands of soldiers who lost their lives in the pursuit of a Naxal-free India.

**Justice Sudarshan Reddy’s Verdict Claims Many Lives **

Amit Shah stated that following the 2011 verdict in the Salwa Judum case delivered by then Supreme Court Justice Sudarshan Reddy in favor of the Naxals the Naxalites subsequently killed everyone who had participated in the Salwa Judum movement. He criticized the Congress party for fielding such an individual as their candidate for the Vice-Presidency. He asserted that no political party with faith in the rule of law and the maintenance of law and order would ever nominate a person like Justice Sudarshan Reddy as a candidate. “Salwa Judum began in 2005 as a people’s movement backed by the government. Tribal youths were recruited as Special Police Officers (SPOs). They were trained to counter those spreading terrorism. Salwa Judum was not initiated by any BJP worker, it was started by a Congress leader, Shri Maan Karma. The Naxalites brutally murdered him. On July 5, 2011, a bench headed by Justice Sudarshan Reddy delivered a verdict declaring the government’s fight against the Naxalites to be unlawful and ordered the confiscation of weapons held by the SPOs. What was the consequence of this? The weapons held by the SPOs were indeed withdrawn. However, the weapons in the hands of the Naxalites remained intact. They systematically hunted down and killed everyone associated with Salwa Judum. That very same Sudarshan Reddy subsequently became the Vice-Presidential candidate representing the opposition parties. The Congress party asks, ” What connection do we have with the Naxalites-?, This right here,is that connection.” “We believe that the judges within our judicial system remain impartial. That constitutes the very soul of our judiciary. However, after assuming the role of a judge, an individual utilized their personal ideology cloaking it in the guise of the Constitution to deliver verdicts that resulted in the loss of human lives. I strongly condemn such a verdict. I also condemn those who voted for and fielded this individual as a candidate. An ideology must never be one that undermines the welfare of the people,” remarked Amit Shah.

— M Venkata T Reddy, News Editor and Investigative Journalist