Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday warned that the elimination of armed Maoists did not mean the country had overcome the threat of Naxalism, alleging that ideological supporters of the movement, whom he termed “dimagi Naxals”, had infiltrated political parties and several organisations.
Addressing security personnel during Diwali celebrations at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, Modi said these elements continued to influence people against the Constitution and democratic institutions. He called for identifying and defeating them to safeguard the country.
“Naxalites have been eliminated, but the threat is not over yet. Armed Naxalites have disappeared from the forests, but ‘dimagi Naxals’ have taken control of several organisations,” the Prime Minister said.
He alleged that such individuals were still instigating people against the country’s Constitution and democracy and had made inroads into political parties and different organisations.
“We must identify and defeat them and secure the country,” he said.
The remarks came as Modi celebrated Diwali with personnel deployed in a region that was once considered a major stronghold of Left-Wing Extremism. The Prime Minister described the elimination of armed Maoists as the outcome of the government’s policies and strong political will, while cautioning that the ideological challenge remained.
Modi credits security forces, government policies for gains against Maoism
The Prime Minister said his government had taken several decisions to weaken the funding networks of Naxalites and separatists, including destroying counterfeit currency networks and disrupting their supply lines.
He alleged that previous governments had curtailed the operational freedom of security forces, leaving them unable to respond effectively to Maoist attacks.
“We gave security forces the freedom to take all necessary decisions,” Modi said.
He also claimed that his government had dismantled the support system that Left-Wing Extremism had allegedly enjoyed within certain sections of the government and administration.
Explaining the government's objective behind its campaign against Maoist violence, Modi said it was determined to prevent families from being devastated by the conflict and ensure that young people did not take up arms or lose their futures.
“The government’s objective was to ensure that no mother lost her child, no family was pushed into devastation, no child took up arms and no young person’s future was destroyed,” he said.
“We remained committed to this resolve until the goal was achieved. Without publicity or showmanship, we worked with sensitivity and broke the backbone of Maoist terrorists. We transformed the lives of people in Naxal-affected areas through a spirit of service, which led those suffering from Naxalism to stand firmly with the government and security forces,” he added.
More than 230 districts once affected by Naxalism
Describing the campaign against Maoist violence as a major national challenge, Modi said more than 230 districts across nearly 20 states had once been affected by Naxalism.
He maintained that the country needed unwavering determination and a carefully planned strategy to deal with its enemies and move forward.
“To take the country forward, its enemies must be crushed with unwavering determination and a well-planned strategy,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the lack of political will to tackle the insurgency had been addressed in 2014, when people gave him the opportunity to serve the country.
He also highlighted what he described as a significant achievement for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), saying that, for the first time in 47 years, not a single CRPF personnel had been killed in the line of duty during the preceding year.
The Centre had announced on March 31, 2026, that the country had been freed from Naxalism. The government has attributed the progress to sustained security operations, the elimination of senior Maoist leaders and surrenders by cadres.
Bastar witnesses security and development push
Bastar, once regarded as the epicentre of Left-Wing Extremism in Chhattisgarh, has undergone considerable changes in recent years following intensified anti-Maoist operations, large-scale surrenders and an expansion of development initiatives.
The CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur is an important facility for the CRPF's specialised Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, which conducts counter-insurgency operations in Maoist-affected areas, including the Bastar region and Abujhmad.
During his visit, Modi also distributed sweets to security personnel and paid tribute to their sacrifices and service. He described the occasion as particularly significant, saying the country was marking its first Diwali after the end of its decades-long battle against Naxalism.
The Prime Minister's warning about “dimagi Naxals” underlined his position that, despite the government's claims of having eliminated armed Maoist activity, continued vigilance was necessary against what he described as the movement's ideological influence.