Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday ruled out talks with Naxals and said they will have to lay down weapons after accepting the government's "lucrative surrender and rehabilitation policy". Addressing the 'Bastar Dussehra Lokotsav' and 'Swadeshi Mela' in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, he asserted that March 31, 2026, has been set as the definitive deadline to eradicate the menace of Naxalism.
"Some people have called for talks [with Naxals]. Let me make it clear again that both the Chhattisgarh and Central governments are committed to development across Bastar and all Naxal-affected areas. "There is nothing to talk," said Shah.
"A surrender-and-rehabilitation policy has been put in place. Come forward and lay down your weapons."
The Home Minister stated that he had visited the renowned Maa Danteshwari Temple where he prayed for security forces to gain the strength necessary to free the entire Bastar region from "red terror" by the deadline of March 31 next year. He warned Naxals that security forces would deliver a befitting reply to those attempting to disrupt the region's peace with weapons.
Shah countered previous narratives, saying, "Some people in Delhi used to spread misinformation for years that the birth of Naxalism was for the fight for development. But I have come to tell my tribal brothers that entire Bastar has been deprived of development. The root cause of this is Naxalism."
He highlighted that essential services such as electricity, drinking water, roads, toilets, health insurance up to ₹5 lakh, and 5 kg of free rice have reached every village in India, but Bastar has been deprived of such progress.
"The Narendra Modi government has given more than ₹4 lakh crore to Chhattisgarh for development works in 10 years," he said. "On behalf of the Prime Minister, I want to assure you that after March 31, 2026, Naxalites will not be able to stop your development. They will not be able to stop your rights."
The Union Minister urged the gathered public to convince those misled by Naxalism to shun violence and join the mainstream. Shah also described the 75-day-long Dussehra festival as one of the world's longest and most culturally significant festivals, honouring the region's tribal heritage.
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