2026 Diwali special as India now Naxal-free: PM Modi

New Delhi, Nov 08: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday celebrated Diwali with security forces at the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and hailed the personnel for their role in securing the nation, describing the 2026 Diwali as truly special because it marks the first festival of lights after India rendered every district Naxal-free and enabled crores of citizens to overcome fear. Addressing the jawans, the Prime Minister explained that he had come to Bastar to celebrate this extraordinary milestone with the lakhs of security personnel who made it possible and to convey the gratitude of 140 crore citizens. "Today I have come to express gratitude towards your sacrifice, dedication, and spirit of service," PM Modi said, noting that the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur had served as the training base and launch pad for counter-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad. Recalling his Diwali celebrations with soldiers from Kargil and Lepcha in the Himalayas to Sir Creek on the coast and aboard INS Vikrant in the ocean, the Prime Minister said, "At the borders and within the country, the sentinels of the nation who protect the country, the brave sons of Maa Bharati, all of you are my loved ones, all of you are a part of my family." Quoting the ancient Sanskrit wisdom "Aabhyantaram Bhayam Rakshyam, Asaaram Baahyato Bhayam" to explain that external enemies cannot harm a nation whose internal security is strong but raise their heads when internal security weakens, the Prime Minister equated the internal role of security forces with that of the armed forces at the borders. He lauded the boundless sacrifices of personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, IRB, state police forces, Bastar Fighters commandos and women fighters, while also extending festive greetings to soldiers guarding the nation's frontiers. "This country is indebted to you for your services, and crores of countrymen are proud of you," he said. Recalling the grim era when Left-Wing Extremism gripped over 230 districts across nearly 20 states, where evening curfews of fear prevailed, voting rights were snatched, up to 2,000 annual attacks occurred, over 1,000 personnel laid down their lives in Chhattisgarh alone, countless soldiers lost limbs to IED blasts, and 76 CRPF personnel and 44 innocent civilians were killed in separate 2010 Dantewada attacks, the Prime Minister pointed out that between 2004 and 2013 more security personnel were martyred annually than Naxals killed, emboldening Maoist leaders. Emphasising that no nation can progress with a passive approach toward its enemies and must instead crush them strategically with high morale, the Prime Minister stated that after 2014, the decades-old trend of higher casualties among security forces was reversed, resulting in a historic milestone where not a single CRPF soldier lost his life on duty over the past year for the first time in 47 years. "This is the victory of the country's right policies and firm willpower, and this is the victory of your valour, courage and restraint," he asserted. Stating that success requires both the right intention and the right policies, the Prime Minister noted that the government took a series of tough, including several unpublicised, national security decisions that struck at Naxal and separatist funding and destroyed the fake currency nexus. "Not only did this break their economic backbone, rather the entire supply line was choked, stopping the supply of weapons and curbing the movement and recruitment of Naxals," PM Modi said. He stated that his government granted full operational freedom to security forces to take every necessary decision. Explaining that the government worked tirelessly without publicity or ostentation toward the singular goal of ensuring that no mother loses her child, no family is ruined and no youth takes up arms, he highlighted how combining sensitive security operations with a spirit of public service transformed lives and rallied affected citizens behind the government and security forces. "With a spirit of service, we transformed the lives of people in Naxal-affected areas," he said. Observing that working with the spirit of Nation First ensures peace and security, propels the country to new developmental heights and expands the participation of the poor and deprived in national progress, the Prime Minister pointed out the dual triumph achieved by the nation over the past dozen years. "In the past 12 years, the country has not only won the battle against Naxalism and separatism, rather the country has also won a major war against poverty," he asserted. Highlighting the World Bank report released just ahead of Deepavali, the Prime Minister noted that 50 crore Indians have escaped extreme poverty over the past 12 years. Comparing India's welfare architecture to a Diwali Rangoli where small, distinct lines come together to form a grand picture, he detailed how Jan Dhan banking, PM Awas pucca homes, collateral-free Mudra loans, SVANidhi support for street vendors, Ayushman Bharat healthcare, free monthly rations, child education policies, Swachh Bharat and Har Ghar Jal collectively ensured free medicine, free education and a free kitchen while removing basic anxieties so families once trapped in generational poverty now inherit a stronger future. "The poor families whose entire lives used to be spent only in worry have now received the assurance of the government, and a new self-confidence has come into them," he said. Pointing out that this victory over poverty is deeply linked to the fight against Naxalism, which previously trapped lakhs of innocent citizens in deprivation by blocking schools, hospitals, medical stores, polio vaccinations, mobile towers and industries, the Prime Minister detailed the special development drive in affected areas that built over 15,000 kilometres of roads, over 9,500 mobile towers, nearly 175 Eklavya schools, around 50 ITIs, 50 Skill Development Centres and thousands of post offices, bank branches and ATMs, alongside rehabilitating surrendered Naxals and bringing water, electricity and roads to remote tribal villages for the first time under PM JANMAN. "When we started the fight against Naxalism, at the same time we also ran special campaigns for the development of Naxal-affected areas," he noted. Stating that the "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" campaign energised the fight against poverty and brought an end to Naxal violence alongside lifting 50 crore people out of extreme poverty, the Prime Minister cited the ongoing Bastar Olympics as a symbol of transformation in the region. "Today in this very Bastar, the Bastar Olympics are taking place, and children are trying their hand at sports, not guns," he remarked. Emphasising that today's milestones are a launchpad rather than a stopping point, the Prime Minister stated that the nation's new flight will fulfil the centuries-old dreams of freedom fighters, border soldiers and personnel who laid down their lives fighting Naxalism and terrorism. Urging the forces who live by the motto "Tera Gaurav Amar Rahe Maa, Hum Din Chaar Rahein Na Rahein" to channel their spirit into new confidence, he said, "Now is the time to live for the nation and to take the nation to a new height." Citing the nation's proven track record of fulfilling major pledges such as abrogating Article 370 in Kashmir, building household toilets and expanding vaccination coverage, the Prime Minister expressed complete confidence that India will similarly achieve its goals of eradicating poverty and building a Drug-Free, Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat. "Your sacrifices and hard work will become a strong foundation for the grand edifice of a Viksit Bharat," he said, concluding with Deepavali greetings.