Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday delivered a clear message to Maoist insurgents: there will be no ceasefire with the government. Speaking at the valedictory session of a seminar on ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’, Shah said the only path forward for extremists was unconditional surrender.
“Recently, to spread confusion, a letter was written stating that what has happened so far has been a mistake, that a ceasefire should be declared, and that we (Naxals) want to surrender,” Shah said according to PTI. “I want to say there will be no ceasefire. If you want to surrender, there is no need for a ceasefire. Lay down your arms, not a single bullet will be fired.”
‘Red carpet welcome’ for those who surrender
Shah emphasised that those who surrender would be welcomed into society under the government’s rehabilitation policy, which he described as lucrative and humane. “A red carpet welcome is waiting for you if you surrender,” he told Maoists.
The remarks came in response to a ceasefire overture by the CPI (Maoists), reportedly issued after intensified operations by security forces, including Operation Black Forest along the Chhattisgarh–Telangana border, where several top Maoist leaders were killed.
Hitting out at Left parties
According to PTI, the Home Minister also used the occasion to lash out at Left parties, accusing them of providing ideological cover to Left Wing Extremism. He dismissed the argument that underdevelopment was the root cause of Maoist violence, saying instead it was Maoist terror that had blocked development in several regions for decades.
“Why did the Naxal problem arise, grow and develop in the country? Who provided them with ideological support? Until Indian society understands this, the fight against Naxalism will not end,” Shah said.
He added that those who continue to nurture the Naxal ideology, through financial, legal, or intellectual support, must also be identified.
Deadline for a ‘Naxal-free India’
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Shah declared that the country would be free of Naxalism by March 31, 2026. He stressed that merely reducing killings was not enough and that the underlying ideology had to be confronted and defeated.
“There are many people who believe that stopping the killings is enough to eradicate Naxalism. But the truth is, Naxalism developed because its ideology was nurtured within society,” Shah said.
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