Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Congress of nurturing Naxalism for decades instead of working to eradicate it, saying that merely carrying a copy of the Constitution does not amount to supporting it. Addressing the closing ceremony of the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav in Naya Raipur, presided over by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Shah claimed that for 30 years those who took up arms were used as pawns by the Congress. “There was never any genuine intent to eradicate Naxalism; instead, it was nurtured,” he said.
Shah alleged that in areas where schools should have stood, buildings were blown up, and those who tried to build roads for development were burned alive. He asked those who defend Naxalism in the name of human rights whether such rights belong only to those who take up arms to obstruct development, or also to poor tribal people whose lives were shattered. The Home Minister said the Modi government has made concerted efforts to improve the lives of people affected by Naxal violence and invited critics to visit Bastar and witness the winds of development.
Shah recalled that in 2010 the then Congress government had suggested that Naxals need not even lay down their arms and were merely asked to stop violence. In contrast, he said he had clearly asserted in Parliament that those who wish to surrender must lay down arms and join the mainstream, otherwise security forces would deal with them. “As a result, only 10 per cent were killed while 90 per cent surrendered,” he said. Referring to parallel “people’s governments” run by Naxals, Shah questioned which part of the Constitution permitted such structures and accused Rahul Gandhi of supporting them in Parliament.
He said the Congress had a history of supporting “unconstitutional parallel governments” while making a mockery of the real Parliament. He noted that while development work took place for 15 years under Raman Singh, the Congress was in power at the Centre and had no intention of eradicating Naxalism. After the people of Chhattisgarh removed the Congress government and gave the BJP another opportunity, the government determined to eliminate Naxalism, he said. Shah remarked that where there should have been a cultural corridor, a red corridor was created instead, and that in forests that should have been filled with mahua flowers, tendu leaves and folk songs, landmines were planted. “Children who should have held pens were abducted from schools and handed guns; schools were blown up and roads, the pathways to development, were destroyed,” he said.
Shah asserted that the Modi government is prepared to discuss any issue and is even willing to call a special session for the purpose. Earlier, he inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Park, and distinguished individuals from the state who made significant contributions in various fields were honoured with state awards. The event also showcased Chhattisgarh’s folk culture and music. Shah announced that under the leadership of Chhattisgarh finance minister OP Choudhary, five lakh peepal saplings will be planted in Raipur with the aim of making it a Peepal City and one of the world’s most eco-friendly cities. He said events like Pandum and the Bastar Olympics are organised to keep Chhattisgarh’s culture vibrant, and that folk art forms such as Karma, Raut Nacha and Pandwani, along with crafts like Dhokra art, bell-metal work, woodcraft and Kosa silk, are being promoted. The unique 75-day Bastar Dussehra tradition has been given a new identity under the Vishnu Deo Sai government, he added.
Shah recalled the teachings of Guru Ghasidas and Guru Nanak Dev on equality, service and truth, describing them as the ethos of Chhattisgarh. Congratulating the people of Chhattisgarh, including tribal communities, he declared the state Naxal-free and extended appreciation to the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police. He also recalled the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who granted a distinct state identity to this region, known as the maternal ancestral home of Lord Ram.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/11/03/congress-nurtured-naxalism-for-decades-hm-amit-shah/
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Publish Date: 2026-11-03 20:55:00
