Anurag Singh Thakur takes swipe on Congress for Naxalism, says India nearing its end under Narendra Modi

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Anurag Singh Thakur, former Union Minister and MP from Hamirpur on Monday sharply criticised the Congress while speaking in the Lok Sabha on efforts to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism. He alleged that the party allowed Naxalism to grow over decades and failed to address the issue seriously, while asserting that India is now close to eradicating the menace due to the policies of the Government of India under Narendra Modi.

Thakur said that during previous regimes, several regions including districts like Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur became highly vulnerable due to Naxal activity. He highlighted instances of attacks on infrastructure such as schools, railways, and communication networks stating that development suffered significantly during that period. Referring to earlier approaches, he said the issue was often downplayed as a local or administrative matter rather than treated as a major national security challenge.

He further noted that since 2014, the government has adopted a firm policy of zero tolerance towards Naxalism combining security operations with rehabilitation efforts for those willing to surrender. According to him, the geographical spread of Naxal influence has reduced significantly over the years, indicating progress in tackling the issue. He also paid tribute to security personnel who lost their lives in anti-Naxal operations and said the decline in Naxal-affected areas reflects a major shift in India’s internal security landscape.