Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that Maoist insurgency in India is on the verge of ending, asserting that its last stronghold in Bastar is now moving towards development.
His remarks came during a discussion in the Lok Sabha, a day ahead of the government’s March 31 deadline to eliminate Maoist violence.
Replying to the debate, Shah said the decline of Naxalism was due to the combined efforts of security forces, state police, and local tribal communities. He also credited citizens for supporting anti-insurgency measures.
The discussion, however, turned political, with BJP leaders holding the Congress responsible for the spread of Maoist violence during its decades in power. Shah said the insurgency had claimed around 20,000 lives and impacted millions, arguing that lack of development in tribal regions contributed to its growth.
Citing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Shah noted that Naxalism had once been described as a major internal security challenge, but alleged that sufficient action was not taken at the time.
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