New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the Narendra Modi government has ushered in a new era of development and democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, built on the pillars of peace and security.
During the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha, Shah emphasised that through a strategy of dialogue, security measures, and coordination, the government has effectively tackled Naxalism and is committed to completely eradicating it from the country by March 31 next year.
The Home Minister said, “We are committed to uprooting terrorism. I repeat that by March 31, 2026, this country will be free from Naxalism."
He said that the government has signed multiple accords with various armed outfits, bringing the North-East closer to a resolution, with the issue now nearly resolved.
“After the government came to power, we spoke with all armed outfits (in the Northeast). From 2019 till date, 12 important peace accords have been signed. As many as 10,900 youth have given up arms and joined the mainstream. I had recently visited Bodoland and saw thousands of youth have taken the path of development. They speak in their own Bodo language and follow their own religion," Shah said.
Speaking on the Manipur issue, Shah said that peace has been restored in Manipur, and discussions have taken place between the two communities involved in the conflict, with hopes for a swift resolution of the issue.
The Home Minister firmly dismissed allegations of imposing Hindi on Tamil Nadu, stating that the government is committed to promoting and preserving all languages of the country.
He stated that his government would use Tamil to counter the misinformation spread in the name of language and to uncover scams and corruption linked to linguistic issues. Adding that, starting next December, he would personally communicate with the Tamil Nadu government in Tamil.
He stated that the government, without concern for vote bank politics, has made bold and decisive moves in the nation's interest, effectively crippling terrorism.
Shah said, “On August 5, 2019, in this very House, Modi Ji revoked Article 370, fulfilling the vision of our constitution’s framers—ensuring that India would not have two heads, two Constitutions, or two flags. This marked the beginning of Kashmir’s complete and permanent integration into the nation.”
He said, “When peace and security prevail, democracy is reinstated, and development follows naturally. Kashmir’s treasury was depleted, but in 2015, Narendra Modiji allocated projects worth Rs 80,000 cr for Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. We took the initiative to invest in areas where others lacked the courage to do so.”
On eliminating Naxalism from the country, the Home Minister said, “In 2023, after the BJP came to power in Chhattisgarh, 380 Naxals were eliminated, 1,194 were arrested, and 1,045 surrendered within a year, reducing their numbers by 2,619. During these operations, 26 security personnel sacrificed their lives. This serves as a clear example—Chhattisgarh remained the same, the police force remained the same, and the Central Government remained the same. The only difference was the approach. Under the previous Congress government, the situation persisted, but with the BJP in power, Naxals either surrendered or were neutralised within a year”.
He said that the entire House agreed that the PFI had the potential to become a significant threat in the future. Those who fail to recognise dangers in advance cannot protect the country. “We cannot be passive observers and simply watch threats unfold,” he added.
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