New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 13 attended the closing ceremony of ‘Bastar Olympics’, a division level mega sporting event in Jagdalpur of Chhattisgarh. The Home Minister exuded confidence that Naxalism will be completely eradicated from the country in the next few months.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Home Minister said we had resolved to eliminate Left Wing Extremism from the entire country before March 31, 2026, and today at the Bastar Olympics-2025, we stand on the cusp of achieving that. He added that by the time of the Bastar Olympics-2026 in November-December next year, red terror would have been completely eradicated from the country including Chhattisgarh.
Speaking about the progress of Bastar, the Maoist-hit division of the state comprising of seven districts including Kanker, Kondagaon, Sukma, Bijapur, Bastar, Narayanpur and Dantewada, Shah stated that we should ensure that it becomes the most developed tribal division of the country in the next 5 years.
He mentioned that the government is committed to provide all the basic facilities including electricity, tap drinking water, gas cylinder, ration, houses and free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakhs to every resident of Bastar. Shah stressed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, we will work shoulder to shoulder towards making a developed Bastar.
The Home Minister mentioned that every village in Bastar will be soon connected by roads with banking facilities available within a 5-kilometer radius. He said that the government will also work to create a dense network of Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres (PHCs/CHCs) and establishing units based on cooperatives for processing forest produce.
He noted that the government will establish new industries in Bastar and focus on increasing the income of people through dairying. He added that arrangements will also be made for higher education and developing the best sports complex of Bharat in Bastar. The Minister added that state-of-art hospitals will also be setup in the region and a special scheme will be launched to address malnutrition issue.
He underscored that Naxalites are sitting like a cobra spreading its hood over the development of the region and the end of Naxalism will begin a new era of development. He noted those leaving arms and who have suffered injuries due to Naxalism will be rehabilitated under a very attractive rehabilitation policy.
Sharing his delight over the participation of surrender Maoists in Bastar Olympics, Shah stated that its good to see more than 700 surrendered Naxalites participating in these games. He said that those who fall for the deception of Naxalism ruining their entire lives, and more than 700 such youth who have laid down arms and joined the mainstream have today come onto the path of sports.
Reiterating that Naxalism will be wiped out from the country by March next year, the Home Minister makes an appeal to Maoists, still holding guns. He stated that even now, those who are misled and sitting with weapons in their hands are our own people and should lay down their arms. He said that they should take advantage of the rehabilitation policy, think about their own welfare and that of their families, and join the resolve for a developed Bastar.
He noted that Naxalism benefits no one, not those who take up arms, not the tribals, and not the security forces. He said that only peace can pave the way for development. He added that the government never had objective of killing Naxalites in encounters and more than 2000 youths have surrendered. He lauded the leaders of the tribal society stating that they have made a very significant contribution to this. He appealed that those still roaming with weapons in their hands should be persuaded to join the mainstream.
The Home Minister remarked that those who have come forward as players in these games have set a very big example before everyone. He said that these players have chosen hope over fear, the path of unity over division, and the path of development over destruction, and this is precisely the vision of Prime Minister Modi’s New Bharat and a developed Bastar.
Talking about the heritage of the region, Shah said that Bastar has one of the richest cultures in the world. He informed that the state government has started preserving the traditional songs by building a modern recording studio and many traditional festivals, which were on the verge of extinction under the shadow of the red terror of Naxalism, have also been promoted.
The Home Minister lauded the increase participation of players in the Bastar Olympics asserting that the enthusiasm shown by the people has led to Prime Minister Modi selecting the state for Khelo India Tribal Games.
He mentioned that a team of officials from the Sports Authority of India has also come here to spot the talent of the players and that by recognizing their talent they will be facilitated by the government to participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
The Home Minister said that Bastar is now changing, and has become synonymous with the future rather than fear. He emphasised that where the echoes of gunfire used to be heard, today the school bells are ringing. Where building roads was once a dream, today railway tracks and highways are being laid. Where slogans of “Lal Salaam” used to be raised, today slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” are being heard.
