Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the era of Maoist terrorism in India is drawing to a close, assuring citizens that it is his ‘personal guarantee’ to make the nation free from this decades-long menace.
Addressing the NDTV World Summit 2025 in New Delhi, PM Modi spoke with rare emotional intensity, condemning the violence that has long crippled development across rural and tribal regions.
He said the nation had reached a turning point, with Maoist influence shrinking drastically. “The day is not far when India will be free from Maoist terror,” he affirmed.
Highlighting measurable progress, the Prime Minister revealed that of the 125 districts once affected by Maoist insurgency, only 11 now remain under its shadow, and merely three are categorised as highly vulnerable.
“In the past 72 hours alone, 303 Naxalites have surrendered, including those carrying bounties worth up to ₹1 crore. These are not ordinary militants; they are now embracing the Constitution,” PM Modi said, crediting his government’s approach that combines security measures with constitutional and developmental outreach.
He described this wave of surrenders as a clear signal that insurgents are turning away from violence and choosing the democratic path.
Condemnation of Neglect and Urban Naxalism
PM Modi criticised the decades of systemic neglect that left India’s heartlands without basic amenities due to Maoist disruptions. “For over 50 years, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure were denied to those regions,” he remarked.
He also aimed at what he termed ‘urban Naxals’ for allegedly downplaying Maoist atrocities during earlier regimes. “Poor villagers, farmers, and tribals, some with amputated limbs, came to Delhi to make their pain heard. But those who once defended Maoists under the guise of the Constitution ignored them,” he said.
PM Modi emphasised that development has become the strongest weapon against extremism. He pointed to Bastar, once a Maoist stronghold, where tribals are now hosting the Bastar Olympics, reflecting cultural renewal and social peace.
“This Diwali will be different for families in areas once scarred by Maoist terror,” the Prime Minister said. “Schools, hospitals, and opportunities are replacing fear. India is turning the page on one of its darkest chapters.”
With his closing words, PM Modi reiterated his commitment: “Maoist terror will end. That is my personal guarantee.”
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