'First since end of naxalism': PM Modi celebrates Diwali with security personnel in Bastar

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel deployed in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Sunday. PM Modi credited the forces for their sacrifices in the fight against Left-wing extremism and took a dig at previous Congress governments, accusing them of failing to tackle the insurgency. "Because of your sacrifices we have put an end to the terror of naxalism here," PM Modi said while addressing the personnel. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said he had come to celebrate the festival with the security personnel as a representative of the country's 140 crore citizens. Drawing a parallel between the responsibilities of soldiers guarding India's borders and security personnel fighting insurgency within the country, PM Modi said internal security was equally important for protecting the nation's unity and integrity. "When a nation's internal security is strong, external enemies cannot succeed. However, when internal security is weakened, external enemies also begin to raise their heads," he said. The prime minister then turned his attention to the previous Congress-led governments, alleging that they had treated Naxalism as an incurable problem rather than taking decisive action against it. "If you look at the figures from 2004 to 2013, you will find that every year, the number of our brave soldiers martyred was higher than the number of Naxalites killed. Unfortunately, the governments of that time treated Naxalism as an incurable disease and left it unaddressed," he said. Recalling the violence that had gripped Chhattisgarh for years, PM Modi cited the 2010 Dantewada attacks, in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed in an encounter with Naxalites and 44 civilians lost their lives in another incident.

"This land was soaked in the blood of our brave soldiers. But not a single voice of anguish was heard from those influential leaders living in their palaces. Not a single tear was shed by them," he said. The prime minister also spoke about his tradition of celebrating Diwali with security personnel, saying they were like family to him. He recalled previous celebrations with the forces, from Kargil and Lepcha in the Himalayas to Sir Creek and INS Vikrant. Bastar has remained at the centre of the government's campaign against Left-wing extremism, with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police playing a key role in anti-Naxal operations. On March 31, the government announced that the country had been freed from the menace of Naxalism following the elimination of several senior leaders and cadres, alongside the surrender of hundreds of others.