Maoism thrives on ideology, not poverty: Amit Shah
Raipur | Correspondent: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp ideological attack on left-wing extremism at the 'Chhattisgarh @ 25: Shifting the Lens' conclave held in Raipur on Sunday. He clarified that Maoism is not merely a problem of backwardness or law and order, but the result of an ideology that rejects constitutional methods and considers violence a political weapon.
Shah termed the notion that the root cause of Maoist violence is a lack of development as "misleading and dangerous." He argued that in the 1980s, there were 100 districts in the country far more backward than Bastar, yet Maoism did not flourish there, proving that it is solely a result of ideological mobilization.
Launching a scathing attack on the previous Congress government, Shah unequivocally alleged that the Bhupesh Baghel government had provided "shelter" to the Maoists. Discussing security operations, he stated that the government does not want bloodshed and prioritizes surrender.
He appealed to armed Maoists, especially the women cadres, to return to the mainstream, where they would be welcomed with a "red carpet."
However, he also made it clear that if arms are taken up against the state, providing security is the constitutional duty of the government. Shah claimed that 90% of the Maoist problem has already been resolved, well ahead of the March 31 deadline set by the Centre.
The Home Minister accused the Maoists of destroying institutions that empower tribal communities and said they deliberately targeted schools and health centers to keep generations in Bastar uneducated.
He compared the dream of a 'Red Corridor' from 'Tirupati to Pashupati' to a cobra that has been spreading its hood for 40 years.
Amit Shah concluded by stating that the BJP's governance model is the best, adding that communist ideology has brought only darkness wherever it has gone, and the public has now completely rejected this worldview. He reiterated the resolve to completely eliminate Maoism by March 31, 2026, stating that eliminating the appeal of this ideology is just as important as eliminating the weapons.
