"Your sacrifices reduced Naxalism": PM Modi celebrates Diwali with troops in Bastar

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel deployed in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. He praised their sacrifices and contributions to the fight against Naxalism. The Prime Minister also accused previous Congress governments of failing to tackle Naxalism. Addressing security personnel, Modi highlighted their role in the fight against the insurgency.

"It is because of your sacrifices that we have been able to reduce the menace of Naxalism in this region," he told the personnel. He said he had come to celebrate Diwali with them as a representative of the country's 1.4 billion people. Modi said the responsibility of security personnel safeguarding the country against internal threats was as important as that of soldiers guarding its borders. He also stressed that internal security was crucial to preserving the country's unity and integrity.
"If a country's internal security is strong, foreign forces cannot succeed there. However, when internal security becomes weak, foreign enemies also raise their heads," the Prime Minister said.

Modi criticised previous governments for treating Naxalism as an insurmountable problem, alleging that they had allowed it to grow. Bastar is a key region in the Central Government's efforts to combat Naxalism. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police are jointly leading anti-Naxal operations in the region.

The Prime Minister said celebrating Diwali with security personnel was a regular practice for him and that he considered them members of his own family. He also recalled celebrating the festival with soldiers in Kargil, Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh, Sir Creek and aboard INS Vikrant.