Has issue of Naxalism been resolved, questions Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel

Baghel, the former Chief Minister, emphasised that everyone wants peace in Bastar and suggested that if Naxalism has indeed ended, paramilitary forces should be pulled back.

"They have said that they would end Naxalism by March 31. Did it end? If it has ended, then let the paramilitary forces return. We also want it to end. We all want the people of Bastar to live peacefully, without any fear," the Congress leader told ANI.

His remarks come after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday, declared that India has largely become Naxal-free, calling it one of the Modi government's biggest successes.

Shah asserted that Naxalism did not spread because of poverty but that poverty had been exacerbated by Naxal activity. He attributed the root cause of Naxalism to left-wing ideology, which he said was historically supported by political leaders to gain advantage in elections.

Shah highlighted that the Modi government has focused on development in previously neglected regions, contrasting it with past periods where Maoists hindered schools, dispensaries, and banks, misleading locals about the reach of development.

He cited the results of security operations: 4,839 Naxalites have surrendered, 2,218 have been jailed, and 706 who refused to surrender were killed in encounters.

"We had set a target to make the region Naxal-free by March 31st. After the entire process, I'll inform the nation. However, I can state with absolute confidence that we've indeed become Naxal-free," he said.

"Bihar had become Naxal-free prior to 2024. Maharashtra, barring a single tehsil, had become Naxal-free before 2024. Odisha had become Naxal-free prior to 2024. Jharkhand, except for one district, had become Naxal-free before 2024," he added.

The "Naxal Mukt Bharat" (Naxal-free India) mission was a strategic goal set by the Union Home Ministry under the Modi government to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) by March 31, 2026. (ANI)