Modi celebrates Diwali with security forces in Bastar, hails victory over Naxalism
Addressing personnel from various security forces, Modi said he had visited Bastar to celebrate the historic achievement with the security personnel whose sacrifices, dedication and courage had made it possible and to convey the gratitude of 140 crore Indians.
He recalled his earlier Diwali celebrations with security personnel in Kargil, Lepcha, Sir Creek and aboard INS Vikrant, saying that soldiers guarding the country’s borders and those protecting internal security were equally dear to him.
“The brave sons of Maa Bharati are all members of my family,” he said.
The Prime Minister lauded personnel of the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, state police forces, Bastar Fighters and women commandos for their contribution to the fight against Left-Wing Extremism.
Recalling the spread of Naxalism across more than 230 districts in nearly 20 states, Modi said the country had witnessed years of violence, fear and disruption of normal life.
He referred to the sacrifices of security personnel in Chhattisgarh and the 2010 Dantewada attacks, in which 76 CRPF personnel and 44 civilians were killed in separate incidents.
He said the government had adopted a firm approach after 2014, combining decisive security operations with development initiatives in affected areas.
For the first time in 47 years, not a single CRPF personnel had lost his life on duty during the past year, he claimed.
Modi said the government had taken several measures to choke the financial and logistical networks of Maoist organisations, including disrupting funding channels, fake currency networks and the supply of weapons.
Security forces were given operational freedom to take necessary decisions, he added.
Stressing that security operations were accompanied by development and public welfare measures, the Prime Minister said the government had constructed more than 15,000 km of roads, installed over 9,500 mobile towers and established nearly 175 Eklavya model schools, around 50 ITIs and 50 Skill Development Centres in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas.
Thousands of post offices, bank branches and ATMs had also been established, while surrendered Maoists were being rehabilitated, he said.
Referring to the Bastar Olympics, Modi said the transformation in the region was reflected in children taking part in sports instead of being drawn into violence.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s progress in poverty reduction, referring to a World Bank report which, he said, indicated that 50 crore Indians had come out of extreme poverty over the past 12 years.
He cited welfare initiatives such as Jan Dhan accounts, PM Awas Yojana, Mudra loans, SVANidhi, Ayushman Bharat, free foodgrain distribution, Swachh Bharat and Har Ghar Jal, saying these programmes had improved the living conditions of poor families.
Modi said the fight against Naxalism and the campaign against poverty were interconnected, as Maoist violence had prevented the establishment of schools, hospitals, industries and other basic facilities in remote areas.
Describing the achievement against Naxalism as a beginning rather than an end, he called upon security personnel and citizens to work towards building a drug-free, self-reliant and developed India.
The Prime Minister concluded by extending Deepavali greetings to security personnel and their families, saying their sacrifices and dedication would form a strong foundation for a Viksit Bharat.
