Union home minister Amit Shah declared India 'Naxal-free' in the Lok Sabha, crediting strong governance and a zero-tolerance policy for the eradication of left-wing extremism. Shah blamed the Congress and previous governments for the decades-long insurgency, criticising a landmark Supreme Court judgment that banned a controversial militia.
Shah said that in the last three years, 4,839 Maoists surrendered, 706 were killed, and 2,218 arrested and jailed. He defended the use of force against Maoists, saying those who fire bullets must be responded to with bullets.
The minister also slammed former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, who was part of an apex court bench that banned the Salwa Judum, a counterinsurgency citizens militia accused of human rights violations.
Shah targeted the Congress, alleging that former prime minister Indira Gandhi had accepted the support of the Maoists and that the party had helped the rebels survive in Chhattisgarh. He also accused Congress leaders of supporting Maoists and noted that the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council in 2004 had people such as Harsh Mandar, who he alleged supported the rebels.
Shah said that the government's policy is clear: we can talk with those who have given up arms, but those who fire bullets will be replied with bullets. He also mentioned the use of technology, including location tracking, scientific call lockings, and AI data analysis, to combat Maoist activities.
The minister highlighted the government's development initiatives in Maoist-affected areas, including the construction of roads, installation of mobile towers, and opening of bank branches and post offices.
