NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday appealed to Naxalites to lay down their arms and join the mainstream as he addressed a program celebrating the ‘President’s Colour’ award given to the Chhattisgarh police for their efforts in tackling Naxalism.
“I would like to appeal to Naxalites that the state government which has made a very good surrender policy and therefore they should quit violence. They should join the mainstream, move ahead on the path of development and also contribute to the development of Chhattisgarh,” Shah said.
Commending the local police for their efforts in tackling red terror, Shah said, “when Chhattisgarh becomes free from Naxalism, the entire country will rid itself of this menace.”
“I can say with confidence that the Chhattisgarh police force is one of the bravest in the country. Receiving the President’s Colour Award during the 25th year of Chhattisgarh’s formation is a testament to their hard work, dedication, bravery, and deep connection with the people.”
Shah further said the Union government is committed to seeing an end to Naxalism by March 2026.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naxalism has been significantly curbed over the past decade,” Shah said. The home minister claimed that 287 Naxalites had been neutralised, over 1,000 arrested, and 837 had surrendered.”The police, along with other security forces, have put the final nail in the coffin of Naxalism,” he declared.
For the first time in four decades, the annual death toll from Naxal violence, including civilians and security personnel, has dropped below 100, he added.
Later in the evening, the home minister is expected to attend the closing ceremony of the Bastar Olympics, where he will meet hundreds of surrendered Naxalites from Chhattisgarh and other states affected by Left-Wing Extremism. The event will also feature Para-Olympic performances by those injured in IED blasts.