Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Deepavali on Sunday in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, spending the festival of lights with security personnel deployed in anti-Maoist operations.
Addressing the troops, the Prime Minister framed the occasion around the eradication of Left-wing extremism. He noted that the region, once considered a heavily fortified sanctuary for Maoist cadres, now hosts security forces celebrating the holiday free from active tactical threats. The event follows aggressive counter-insurgency operations, extensive surrenders, and a sustained development push across the state’s southern belt.
Shifting Security Realities in Bastar
Bastar has undergone a major transformation following aggressive counter-insurgency operations, massive surrenders and a development push. For decades, the dense forests of Chhattisgarh served as the epicenter of Maoist rebellion, marked by frequent ambushes and high casualty rates among security forces. Government data highlighted by The Times of India underscores the historical gravity of the conflict, recalling incidents such as the 2010 Dantewada attack in which 76 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and 44 civilians lost their lives.
Diwali is sweeter with those who protect us! #Bastar #NaxalFreeIndia pic.twitter.com/7Ywie7uTt4
In remarks reported by NDTV, the Prime Minister stated that not a single CRPF soldier had been killed in action over the preceding year, describing the shift as an extraordinary achievement attributable to revised tactical frameworks and improved infrastructure.
Prime Minister Warns Troops About Intellectual Sympathizers in Civic Groups
While armed insurgency in the forested terrain has receded, the discourse surrounding national security has shifted toward political and ideological dimensions. During his address to the troops, the Prime Minister cautioned against what he termed “dimagi Naxals”—intellectual or ideological sympathizers whom he alleged have infiltrated political parties and various civic organizations to incite opposition against the Constitution and democratic institutions, as detailed by NDTV.
The remarks also included sharp critiques of previous administrations. The Prime Minister asserted that past governments treated Left-wing extremism as an intractable disease rather than deploying the political will necessary to dismantle its financing and operational networks. According to The Times of India, he contrasted current outcomes with the period between 2004 and 2013, arguing that annual casualties among security personnel previously exceeded the number of insurgents neutralized.
The visit aligns with a broader tradition maintained by the Prime Minister of spending Deepavali with frontline forces, mirroring previous visits to locations such as Kargil, the Himalayas, and naval installations like INS Vikrant.
Every Diwali spent with our brave soldiers is memorable for me. My brave soldiers, this time I have come to the land of Bastar to celebrate Diwali with all of you. This is the very land that once suffered the scourge of Naxal terror. But thanks to your sacrifice and dedication,…
More on Deepavali
A very special Diwali with our brave security forces in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. https://t.co/7I5aOQdMSk
This is the first Diwali since the country won its decades-long battle against Naxalism and Maoist terror. This is the first Diwali when every district in the country is free from Naxalism. This is the first Diwali when crores of Indians have overcome the fear of Naxalism. -… pic.twitter.com/90WmehuGd6
