‘A Major Shift After 2014’: PM Modi On India’s Fight Against Naxalism

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a change in political approach, decisive policy measures and the determination of security personnel had played a major role in curbing Maoist violence, adding that the country’s strategy against Naxalism underwent a significant shift after 2014.

Key Highlights

Speaking at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, the Prime Minister said confronting threats to national security required firm leadership and a clearly defined strategy.

PM Modi said the government had strengthened the political resolve needed to tackle such challenges after assuming office in 2014, following the mandate given by the people.

Highlighting improvements in the security situation, PM Modi said there had been a time when annual casualties among security personnel exceeded the number of Naxalites killed. He cited the previous year as a major milestone, claiming that no CRPF personnel deployed on duty had lost their lives, describing it as an achievement after 47 years.

The Prime Minister attributed the progress to stronger policies, operational freedom and the courage of security forces. He said several security-related decisions, some of which remain undisclosed, had disrupted the financial networks supporting Naxalites and separatist groups.

The dismantling of counterfeit currency networks, PM Modi added, weakened their funding channels and affected the supply of weapons, movement and recruitment.

Criticising previous governments, PM Modi alleged that security personnel had earlier faced restrictions on taking operational decisions despite attacks by Naxalites.

The present government, he said, had given forces greater authority to respond independently to situations on the ground. He further claimed that efforts had been made to remove institutional support for Left-Wing Extremism.

Concluding his address, PM Modi said the campaign extended beyond security operations to improving living conditions in affected areas, thanking security personnel and local residents for their contribution to the fight against Maoist violence.

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