Home Minister Amit Shah has stated a plan to create a Naxal -free India by March 2026. Focusing on ideology, surrender and development, the government’s strategy also combines rehabilitation with operations to eliminate decades -old leftist extremism.
The government’s fight against Naxalism is not just about bullets and operations, but it is a fight of ideas. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday clarified this while addressing the concluding session of India Manthan 2025 in a session called “Naxal -free India: end of red terror under Modi under the leadership of Modi”.
Highlighting the government’s approach to the Naxal -free India till 31 March 2026, Shah put forward both achievements and ongoing strategies in the fight against Left extremism (LWE). He emphasized that it is not enough to eliminate only its armed members to eliminate Naxalism, but will also have to address the ideology behind the movement.
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Dismissal proposal for ceasefire: Surrender, not compromise
In a direct message to the Naxalites, Shah rejected his recent ceasefire proposal. He clarified the government’s attitude:
“Recently, to spread confusion, a letter was written stating that what happened till now was a mistake, a ceasefire should be announced, and we (Naxal) want to surrender. I want to say that there will be no ceasefire. If you want to surrender, there is no need for the ceasefire. There is no need for the ceasefire.
He said that those who are willing to surrender will be “red carpet welcome” and will be offered a “attractive” rehabilitation policy, which strengthens the government’s double view of enforcement and re -integration.
Shah said, “Two hundred ninety were killed because they were armed. We arrested 1,090. We arrested them where arrest was possible. 881 surrendered. 881 surrendered. It shows the government’s approach,” he highlighted that wherever possible, efforts were always made to ensure non-fatal solutions.
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The ideology is the original: Understanding Naxalism
Shah emphasized that the fight against Naxalism cannot be won only by armed campaigns. He emphasized the importance of understanding and ending ideological grounds, which have promoted Naxalism for decades:
“Many people believe that the Naxalite problem will end with the end of armed activities. But it is not so. Why the Naxalite problem arose in this country, increased and developed? Who gave its ideological support? As long as Indian society did this principle, this idea of Naxalism, and in society, they do not understand those who gave ideological support, legal support and financial support, till then the fight against Naxalism will not end.”
He emphasized that Naxalism not only due to lack of development, but due to secret support network within the society:
“Prime Minister Modi has launched several schemes for 60 crore poor, but who stops these schemes from reaching people in Naxalite affected areas? If Sukma or Bijapur has not reached school, who is responsible? Why are the roads not built in the Left dominated areas? Because the Naxalites killed the contractors.”
Long shadow of red corridor
The red corridor spread from Pashupatinath to Tirupati, sometimes put a long shade on a large part of the country. At its peak, 17 percent of India’s area and 10 percent of the population were in the grip of Naxalite violence.
Shah said, “There was a time when the slogan of the Red Corridor caused concern, but today, when it is mentioned, people laugh,” he highlighted how the government’s continuous strategy has started changing the situation.
He recalled the long history of leftist extremism in India, which are associated with the rise of groups such as the 1970s and the People’s War Group, which finally merged to make CPI (Maoists) in 2004. For decades, these groups expanded into many states, which created a zero of safety and development that affected the lives of millions of people.
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Operation Black Forest and Tarks
A major pillar of the government’s approach has been the capacity of the security forces along with the creation of the exact operation. Shah cited Operation Black Forest, which targeted an important Naxalite camp in the Karegutta hills on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, including two years of ration, arms reserves and even Naxalite factories for IEDs.
Shah said, “On May 23, 2025, the camp was destroyed in Operation Black Forest, and 27 staunch Naxalites were killed.” Additional campaigns in Bijapur resulted in 24 more Naxalites, which is a sign of a strategic injury on the backbone of the movement in Chhattisgarh.
He emphasized that the government has added operational accuracy with rehabilitation, which gives the option to surrender to militants:
“We also give them a chance. We have also launched a good surrender policy. But when you take up arms and go out to kill innocent citizens of India, security forces have no other option. The bullets will have to be answered with bullets …”
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Making the fight human: development and rehabilitation
The government has associated retaliation with development initiatives to remove long -term causes of unrest. Shah told that between 2014 and 2024:
- 12,000 km of roads were built in LWE affected areas.
- 5,000 mobile towers were set up at a cost of ₹ 6,300 crore.
- 1,060 bank branches were opened, 937 ATMs were installed, and 37,850 banking reporters were appointed.
- 850 schools and 186 health centers were established.
The Home Minister also highlighted schemes like Ayushman Bharat, voter card registration and ration shops to bring tribal communities into the mainstream.
Shah reiterated the government’s ideological focus saying, “Neither supporters of Naxalites want the development of tribals, nor do they really care about them. Instead, they are only worried about keeping their ideology alive, which has been rejected worldwide.”
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A integrated strategy on hotspots
Shah also pointed to the success of the government in other internal security challenges including Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast. The cancellation of Article 370 led to dramatic reforms in governance and security, decreasing 65 percent of the deaths of security personnel and 77 percent in civil casualties, as well as a historic 99.8 percent polling in panchayat elections.
In the Northeast, 12 peace agreements were signed, 10,500 militants surrendered, and a rapid decline in the number of casualties, reflecting the effectiveness of a coordinated security and development approach.
Shah said, “The Modi government has not only reduced the physical distance between Delhi and the Northeast, but also reduced emotional distance. Today, the Northeast is moving on the path of peace and development.”
Steps moving towards Naxal -free India
For the Government of India, Naxal -free India is much higher than a slogan – it is a measuring target with a defined time limit. Shah insisted that by 31 March, 2026, India aims to completely eliminate armed Naxalism.
Shah said, “We can surrender to Naxalites or our security forces can neutralize them, but on the ideological front, we have to make a lot of efforts.” The combined force and double approach to re -integration with targeted development in affected areas form the basis of government strategy.
In Shah’s words, India’s fight against Naxalism is not just about ending the armed rebellion – it is about regaining the future of millions of citizens who have suffered under the disturbance of decades, and ensure that the rule of development, peace and law reaches every corner of the country.
Naxal -free India, briefly, remains the government’s major internal security focus, which is a mixture of ideology, operational efficiency and development to end the decades -old challenge.