New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 22 accuses the opposition’s Vice President candidate Justice B Sudarshan Reddy for supporting Naxalism [Maoism].
Speaking at a conclave, the Union Minister alleged that had not Reddy delivered the verdict against Salwa Judum, a tribal led movement against Maoists in Bastar in mid-2000, the red terror menace would have been eliminated from the country by 2020.
“Sudershan Reddy is the person who helped Naxalism. He gave Salwa Judum judgment. If the Salwa Judum judgement had not been given, the Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020. He is the person who was inspired by the ideology that gave Salwa Judam judgment,” Shah said, referring to 2011 SC judgement on Salwa Judum, during the conclave.
"Sudarshan Reddy gave 'Salwa Judum' judgement to SUPPORT NAXALISM. Without this judgement, Naxalism would've WIPED OUT by 2020.
~ He USED Supreme Court for Naxal EXTREMISM."🔥Home minister calling out an Ex Justice for his BIASED Judgement. What a moment 👏🏼🤯 pic.twitter.com/0H2gsT8tgV
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) August 22, 2025
The Union Home Minister further noted that with the choice of candidate for the Vice-President post, Congress’ chances of winning in Kerala have further diminished.
“People of Kerala will certainly see that the Congress party, under the pressure of Left parties, is fielding a candidate who supported Naxalism and used a pious forum like the Supreme Court,” added the Home Minister.
Salwa Judum Judgement
SC Justice B Sudershan Reddy in December 2011 ruled the inclusion of Special Police Officer [SPO] or Salwa Judum members in fight against Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar as unconstitutional and illegal. He also ordered that the SPOs or the Judum members be immediately disarmed.
The SC ruling in the case ‘Nandini Sundar and others vs State of Chhattisgarh’ was then considered a major setback in state’s fight against the red terror, compelling scores of local people [members of the Salwa Judum] to migrate to other location for safety.
The then Chhattisgarh government after the SC ruling later passed the Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Act to effectively counter the Maoist menace in the state.
Maoists in 2013 attacked a convoy of political leaders in Jheeram Ghati of Chhattisgarh, killing over two dozen people including senior Congress party leader and one of the notable figures of Salwa Judum movement Mahendra Karma
