Raipur, May 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday during a press conference in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, that Bastar is now completely free from the fear of Naxalism, marking the beginning of a new chapter in development for the region. He noted the visible enthusiasm, confidence, and hope for the future among the people of Bastar, stating that the era of living under the shadow of guns has ended, allowing the entire region to breathe freely.
In his address, the Home Minister highlighted four significant dates related to the campaign against Naxalism and subsequent development plans. He mentioned December 13, 2023, as the first important date when the BJP government was formed in Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Vishnu Dev Sai. Shah emphasized that while there was a BJP government at the Centre, the Congress government in the state did not provide the necessary support against Naxalism. He claimed that several non-BJP governments cooperated with the Centre, but the Congress government did not support this campaign.
Following the formation of the BJP government in the state, a renewed campaign was launched to eliminate the remaining Naxalism in Bastar. The second significant date, August 24, 2024, was when it was announced after a meeting of all state DGPs that the country would be free from the terror of Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
Shah stated that due to the valor, courage, and sacrifice of security forces, the complete eradication of Naxalism was achieved ahead of the scheduled deadline. He highlighted May 19, 2026, as the fourth and most crucial date, as it marks the launch of a comprehensive development plan for Naxal-affected areas. He pointed out that for years, some intellectuals claimed that the spread of Naxalism was due to a lack of development, whereas the truth was that Naxalism had hindered development in these areas.
The Home Minister announced that the central government has already begun working on new schemes for the development of Bastar. He mentioned the recent inauguration of the “Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Dera,” an initiative to transform security camps established to combat Naxalism into development centers.
Shah explained that the Ministry of Home Affairs had established around 200 security camps in Naxal-affected areas, where CAPF, DRG, and Chhattisgarh police personnel were stationed. With the end of Naxalism, 70 of these camps will be converted into “Shaheed Veer Gundadhur Seva Deras.”
Through these service centers, each tribal family in Bastar will be provided with a cow and a buffalo. The milk from these animals will be marketed nationwide through a cooperative model, increasing the income of tribal families and strengthening the region economically.
He concluded by stating that Bastar will now write a new story of development, employment, and prosperity, free from fear.