PM Modi Celebrates Diwali in Bastar, Hails End of Naxal Terror
PM Narendra Modi visits Bastar to celebrate Diwali with security forces, hailing the victory over Naxalism and the end of Maoist terror.
In a powerful gesture of solidarity and gratitude, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, to celebrate Diwali with the security forces. The base, which has served as a critical training hub and launch pad for counter-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad, hosted the Prime Minister as he joined the jawans for the festival of lights.
A Family Bond Beyond Borders
Addressing the brave soldiers, PM Modi reflected on his history of celebrating Diwali with the protectors of the nation. He recalled spending the festival with troops in the Himalayas at Kargil and Lepcha, along the coast at Sir Creek, and aboard the INS Vikrant. He emphasized that whether they are guarding the borders or maintaining internal peace, the security personnel are the "brave sons of Maa Bharati" and part of his own family.
A Historic Milestone: A Naxal-Free India
The Prime Minister described this particular Diwali as truly extraordinary, marking a historic turning point for the nation. He declared that India has finally won its decades-long battle against Maoist terror, rendering every district Naxal-free. He stated that this victory has liberated crores of citizens from a long-standing atmosphere of fear.
"Today I have come to express gratitude towards your sacrifice, dedication, and spirit of service," PM Modi affirmed, conveying the thanks of 140 crore Indians to the security personnel.
The Philosophy of Internal Security
Drawing upon ancient Sanskrit wisdom, ‘Aabhyantaram Bhayam Rakshyam, Asaaram Baahyato Bhayam’, the Prime Minister explained that external enemies cannot harm a nation whose internal security is robust. He argued that external threats only gain strength when internal security weakens, thereby equating the critical role of internal security forces with that of the armed forces guarding the frontiers.
He lauded the immense sacrifices of various forces, including:
- CRPF and CoBRA
- BSF, ITBP, and SSB
- IRB and state police forces
- Bastar Fighters commandos and women fighters
Recalling the Dark Era of Extremism
PM Modi took a moment to recall the grim reality of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) that once gripped over 230 districts across nearly 20 states, including Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. He described a time when:
- Fearful evening curfews were common.
- Voting rights were systematically snatched away.
- Up to 2,000 attacks occurred annually.
- Over 1,000 personnel lost their lives in Chhattisgarh alone.
- Tragedies like the 2010 Dantewada attacks claimed the lives of 76 CRPF personnel and 44 civilians.
The Prime Minister noted a sobering statistic from 2004 to 2013, stating that more security personnel were martyred annually than Naxals were killed, a trend that emboldened Maoist leadership.
Reversing the Tide: Strategy and Willpower
Asserting that a passive approach toward enemies leads to failure, PM Modi stated that after 2014, the government shifted toward a strategy of crushing the threat with high morale and firm resolve. This shift led to a historic achievement: for the first time in 47 years, not a single CRPF soldier lost their life on duty over the past year.
Breaking the Economic Backbone
The Prime Minister attributed this success to the combination of right intentions and right policies. He revealed that the government took several tough, often unpublicized, national security decisions to:
- Strike at the funding sources of Naxals and separatists.
- Destroy the nexus of fake currency.
- Choke the supply lines of weapons.
- Curb the recruitment and movement of Naxals.
PM Modi concluded by stating that his government provided full operational freedom to the security forces, empowering them to take every necessary decision to ensure the safety and sovereignty of the nation.