PM Declares India Free of Naxalism at Red Fort
Marking the 80th Independence Day, Modi honoured over 3,500 security personnel lost in decades of anti-Naxal operations and declared the movement uprooted
Synopsis
While Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India has achieved success in eradicating Naxalism and remembered more than 3,500 security personnel who lost their lives over the years in anti-Naxal operations.
AdvertisementNaxalism Does Not Have the Strength to Breathe
Addressing the nation at the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recalled how the country has successfully eradicated Naxalism and extolled thousands of security personnel killed by Naxals.
In describing the decades-long grip of this movement over parts of the country, Modi said the "Red Terror" had made a number of regions "hostage" with the barrel of a gun, adding that over 3,500 security personnel have been killed during operations to protect the people.
AdvertisementIn his address, the Prime Minister said, "Naxalism, Maoism destroyed the dreams of lakhs of youth. It stole the sons of numerous mothers, crushed the dreams of numerous mothers. This naxalism had kept a large part of India and population as a hostage for four decades with the barrel of a gun".
He said that during the war, there were more police deaths than military deaths, and in 2014, when given the opportunity, the government has successfully eliminated naxalism from the country, which has not even the strength to breathe, he added.
A Distinction Drawn
While the armed Naxal “Hathiyari” (armoured) faction has been eliminated, the Prime Minister said that “Dimaagi Naxals” (ideological) were still a threat and continued to warn that a vigilant response is necessary.
Modi also placed the anti-Naxal operation in the broader context of resilience of the Indian people, a phenomenon that featured India's handling of multiple crises in the past 12 years, such as the pandemic COVID-19 and the Ukraine crisis and West Asian conflict.
AdvertisementThe declaration is an important assertion regarding internal security made at a time when several central and eastern Indian states were under the impact of Left-wing extremism during the previous four decades.
The government's presentation of the anti-Naxal campaign in this context makes it look like it is part of other security and constitutional issues usually discussed in Independence Day speeches and the loss of the security personnel has been interpreted as the highlight of the movement's defeat.
