Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today visited the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, which served as the training base and launch pad for counter-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad, to celebrate Diwali with the security forces. Addressing the jawans on the occasion as crores of Indians across the nation and the world celebrate the sacred festival of lights with their loved ones, the Prime Minister recalled his memorable Diwali celebrations with brave soldiers from Kargil and Lepcha in the Himalayas to Sir Creek on the coast and aboard INS Vikrant in the ocean. “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,” remarked Shri Modi.
Describing the 2026 Diwali as truly special because it marks the first festival of lights after India won its decades-old battle against Maoist terror, rendered every district Naxal-free, and enabled crores of citizens to overcome fear, 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,” affirmed PM Modi.
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 and 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,” affirmed Shri Modi.
Recalling the grim era when Left-Wing Extremism gripped over 230 districts across nearly 20 states including Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, 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.
Emphasizing 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, reversing the decades-old trend of higher casualties among security forces and resulting in a historic milestone where not a single CRPF soldier lost their 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 valor, courage, and restraint,” asserted Shri Modi.
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 unpublicized, 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,” noted PM Modi.
The Prime Minister 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 no mother loses her child, no family is ruined, and no youth takes up arms, he highlighted how combining sensitive security operations that broke the back of Maoist terror with a spirit of public service transformed lives and rallied affected citizens behind the government and security forces, including local citizens present at the event whom he thanked for their vital cooperation. “With a spirit of service, we transformed the lives of people in Naxal-affected areas,” remarked PM Modi.
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,” asserted Shri Modi.
Highlighting the widely discussed 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 over the past 12 years to a Diwali Rangoli where small, distinct lines come together to form a grand picture, the Prime Minister 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,” noted Shri Modi.
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 while bombing railway tracks, the Prime Minister detailed the special development drive in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas that built over 15,000 kilometers 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,” noted PM Modi.
Stating that the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ campaign energized 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,” remarked Shri Modi.
Emphasizing that today's milestones are a launchpad rather than a stopping point, the Prime Minister stated that the nation's new flight will fulfill 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. “Now is the time to live for the nation and to take the nation to a new height,” affirmed Shri Modi.
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 in the security forces and citizens that India will similarly achieve its goals of eradicating poverty and building a Drug-Free, Atmanirbhar, and Viksit Bharat, urging everyone to work toward witnessing these dreams become a reality before concluding with Deepavali greetings. “Your sacrifices and hard work will become a strong foundation for the grand edifice of a Viksit Bharat,” affirmed PM Modi.
A very special Diwali with our brave security forces in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. https://t.co/7I5aOQdMSk
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