‘Killing is not the way forward’: In Bastar, Amit Shah promises rehabilitation to surrendered Maoists

Addressing surrendered Maoists in Bastar’s Jagdalpur city, Amit Shah said, “After surrendering, you must be feeling happy and your parents even happier. But believe me, I am feeling the happiest.”

3 min readRaipurUpdated: Dec 16, 2024 08:08 AM IST

Amit Shah said that for the first time in four decades, the death toll of civilians and security personnel due to Maoist-related violence has fallen below 100, attributing this to the Modi government’s stringent policies.

On a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that while he was happy that “a lot” was done this year in the fight against the Maoists, he emphasised that killings are not the way forward.

Addressing surrendered Maoists in Bastar, Shah promised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government would do everything possible to rehabilitate them. He appealed to them to help encourage other Maoists to surrender as well.

Before heading to Bastar, Shah in Raipur presented the prestigious ‘President’s Colour’ to the Chhattisgarh Police in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

There, he reiterated his statement that Naxalism would be eradicated by March 2026, Shah said security forces neutralised 287 Maoists, arrested 1,000, and facilitated the surrender of 837 in the country in a year.

He said that for the first time in four decades, the death toll of civilians and security personnel due to Maoist-related violence has fallen below 100, attributing this to the Modi government’s stringent policies.

Shah then headed to Bastar, where he attended the closing ceremony of ‘Bastar Olympics’ – a sports initiative to encourage youths from remote villages to play sports and seen as a talent hunt for professional athletes. As per government data, the Bastar Olympics saw the participation of over 1.6 lakh residents of the Bastar region, which comprises seven districts.

Addressing surrendered Maoists in Bastar’s Jagdalpur city, Shah said, “After surrendering, you must be feeling happy and your parents even happier. But believe me, I am feeling the happiest.”

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He promised to provide 15,000 houses under housing schemes to the surrendered Maoists, and also said that the families of every surrendered Maoist would get a cow or a buffalo as well as assistance in building a dairy cooperative to ensure a minimum income of Rs 15,000.

On the fight against Maoists in Bastar, Shah said, “I am happy that we did a lot in this one year. But killing is not the way forward. Those who are holding weapons need to be brought to the mainstream. Hence, I told the Home Minister of Chhattisgarh (Vijay Sharma) to make the best Naxal rehabilitation policy that can be replicated in the rest of India. This policy will be ready in some days and will be sent to other states. Based on this policy, we will try to improve the lives of Naxals who surrendered even 10 years ago and will try to strengthen them and their families.”

Shah said that if a girl from Bastar can win an Olympic medal in 2036, that would send a strong message to the Maoists and that it would “set an example before the whole world that violence is not the way forward”.

“I promise we will not break your trust and that you will be rehabilitated, and many youngsters will drop their weapons and come back to the mainstream,” Shah said.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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