Delivering his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that armed Maoist extremism is breathing its last in India. However, he warned against an ideological threat he termed as “dimaagi Naxals.”
Addressing the nation on India’s 80th Independence Day, the Prime Minister called for national vigilance to identify and isolate individuals. He emphasized the need to address those who continue to harbor Maoist mindsets within institutions and public life.
Shift From Armed Insurgency to Ideological Threat
Highlighting his government’s decade-long anti-Naxal campaign, Prime Minister Modi noted that decades of armed violence in forested regions had been effectively dismantled. However, he cautioned that the underlying ideology remains active in subtle forms.
“In the deep jungles, we have succeeded in eliminating armed Naxals and liberating the country from that crisis. However, while the armed Naxals are gone, ‘dimaagi Naxals’ remain, and those who harbor this mindset are waiting for an opportunity. They are paving the way for violence and discord, employing various tactics to drag society down the wrong path. We must identify these ‘dimaagi Naxals’ and isolate them.” — Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The Prime Minister alleged that for decades, individuals holding Maoist ideologies had established themselves in power corridors. Moreover, they served on government committees as advisers and influenced national policy-making.
He stressed the need to steer the country’s youth away from radical ideologies and align them with mainstream nation-building efforts.
Human and Economic Toll of Maoist Extremism
Reflecting on the historical impact of Left-Wing Extremism, the Prime Minister paid tribute to security personnel who lost their lives in anti-insurgency operations over the past four decades.
Over 3,500 police and security personnel sacrificed their lives protecting citizens in Naxal-affected zones. The Prime Minister noted this figure surpassed casualties in conventional wars.
He added that Maoist violence had destroyed the future of millions of young people. Additionally, it had torn families apart and held large sections of the population hostage at gunpoint. Further, it tore the Constitution to shreds.
Former strongholds of armed insurgency are now witnessing public infrastructure expansion, digital connectivity, and democratic participation replacing decades of violence.
Curated news reports, in-depth analysis, and special features by India’s Opinion editorial team.
