Amit Shah sets March 2026 deadline to wipe out Bastar Maoists

RAIPUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday ruled out any possibility of dialogue with Maoists and said they will have to lay down weapons and accept the governments lucrative surrender and rehabilitation policy. Addressing the Bastar Dussehra Lokotsav and Swadeshi Mela in Jagdalpur, the headquarter of Chhattisgarhs Bastar district, he asserted that March 31, 2026, has been set as the deadline to bid farewell to the menace of Naxalism. I want to tell all my tribal brothers and sisters to persuade the youth of their villages to lay down their arms. They should shun violence, join the mainstream and become part of the development of Bastar, he said. 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. What is there to talk about? A lucrative surrender-and-rehabilitation policy has been put in place. Come forward and lay down your weapons, Shah said. He lauded Chhattisgarhs surrender and rehabilitation policy, which he described as the best in the country. The Chhattisgarh government has made the best surrender policy in the country. More than 500 people have surrendered in a single month. Everyone should surrender. As soon as a village becomes Naxalite-free, the state government will give it Rs 1 crore for development. Naxalism will not benefit anyone, he said. Security forces, including the CRPF and Chhattisgarh police, will give a befitting reply if ultras disrupt peace in Bastar, Shah warned. 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 the entire Bastar has been deprived of development. The root cause of this is Naxalism, he added. Notably, anti-Naxalite operations intensified in Chhattisgarh after the BJP came to power in 2023. Security forces have gunned down over 450 Naxalites in a string of encounters, mostly centred in the Bastar region, since January last year. Shah also attended the Muria Darbar celebrations, part of the renowned Bastar Dussehra festival, where tribal leaders discussed their issues with him. He praised the event for reflecting tribal culture, democratic values and community participation. On the same occasion, Shah launched the Chief Minister Rural Bus Service Scheme, aimed at improving connectivity in the tribal areas of Bastar and Sarguja. Additionally, he transferred the 20th monthly instalment of Rs 1,000 to the bank accounts of women beneficiaries under the governments Mahtari Vandan scheme.