Goa — Today, crores of Indians across the country and in every corner of the world are celebrating the sacred festival of lights. People are travelling from far and wide to reach their homes. It is a great festival of meeting and spending time with family and loved ones. And I too have come among you to celebrate Diwali. Whether on the borders or within the country, all of you who defend the nation, all of you who stand guard over the nation, all you brave sons and daughters of Mother India, are my own people, a part of my family. From Kargil in the lap of the Himalayas to Lepcha, from Sir Creek on the seashore to INS Vikrant in the embrace of the sea, every Diwali spent with our brave soldiers has been memorable for me.
Core Highlights & Operational Progress
This time, I have come to celebrate Diwali in the forests of Bastar, among all of you. This is the land where Naxalite terror once held sway, and because of your sacrifice, dedication, and perseverance, that very land has now been freed from the scourge of Naxalite terror and has begun a new journey of development.
Detailing the operational roadmap, this Diwali of 2026 is truly special. After forty or fifty years, such a Diwali has arrived for all of you. This is the first Diwali when the country has won its decades-long battle against Naxalism and Maoist terror. This is the first Diwali when every district of the country is free from Naxalism. This is the first Diwali when crores of citizens have overcome the fear of Naxalism. This is an extraordinary achievement. A very large share of the credit belongs to you, to lakhs of brave personnel like you, to our soldiers, sons and daughters, and security personnel. Therefore, today I have come to celebrate Diwali with you. And I have also come to express, on behalf of 140 crore Indians, gratitude for your sacrifice, dedication, and spirit of service.
Our visionary ancestors said: “Abhyantaram bhayam rakshyam, asaram bahyato bhayam.” This means that when a nation’s internal security is strong, external enemies cannot do much harm. But when internal security weakens, external enemies also begin to raise their heads. Therefore, the role that our armed forces play on the borders is the same role that all of you security personnel play within the country. You have made countless sacrifices for the unity and integrity of the nation. You have shown limitless dedication. The security forces engaged in preserving internal security, our CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, every single jawan, the SSB, IRB, the police personnel of the states, the commandos of special forces such as the Bastar Fighters, and our women fighters, this nation is indebted to all of you for your service. Crores and crores of citizens are proud of you. With this feeling of gratitude and affection, I extend my heartfelt Diwali greetings to every one of you, wherever you are standing guard. I also convey my greetings to our soldiers deployed on the borders for the defence of the nation.
Key Benchmarks & Statistical Highlights
Comprehensive program documentation and official disclosures outline key operational figures and quantitative benchmarks:
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of 140 crore under the active deployment framework.
Stakeholder Perspectives & Executive Commentary
“Abhyantaram bhayam rakshyam, asaram bahyato bhayam.” — Official Spokesperson
“this is how things will continue.” — Official Spokesperson
Implementation Context & Sector Implications
This battle against Maoist terror and Naxalism was not easy. There was a time when more than 230 districts across nearly 20 states of the country were affected by Naxalism. After sunset, life would come to a standstill in these areas. It became impossible to step outside one’s home. These Naxalites had even snatched away the people’s right to vote. Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, a very large part of the country was affected by Left-wing extremism. Thousands of villages and crores of people were trapped by it. There were as many as two thousand Naxalite attacks in a single year. Just remember, in 2010, nearby in Dantewada, 76 CRPF personnel were martyred in an encounter with Naxalites. In the same year, another incident in Dantewada claimed the lives of 44 innocent civilians. This land was consecrated by the blood of our brave men. But not a single cry of grief was heard from those privileged leaders living in their palaces. Not even a single tear emerged from their eyes. Such attacks occurred repeatedly. This cycle continued for decades. During this period, more than one thousand security personnel sacrificed their lives in Chhattisgarh alone. Many soldiers lost their arms and legs in IED blasts. If you look at the figures from 2004 to 2013, every year more of our brave soldiers were martyred than the number of Naxalites eliminated. The leaders of Naxalite organisations considered this their victory and celebrated it. And unfortunately, the governments of that time had accepted Naxalism as an incurable disease and simply left it unattended. My tribal families were left to survive on their fate. It had been accepted that this would continue endlessly, bullets would keep flying, soldiers would keep dying, and innocent citizens would keep suffering.
In terms of implementation context, no nation can function with an attitude of “this is how things will continue.” To move a nation forward, its enemies must be crushed with determination, courage, and a clear strategy. The political will that was lacking in the country for this task was restored in 2014. You gave this Pradhan Sevak an opportunity to serve Mother India. And after 2014, we saw both the situation and the statistics begin to change. For years, discussions revolved around the number of security personnel being killed compared to the number of Naxalites. But after 47 years, for the first time, not a single CRPF jawan lost his life during duty over the past year. This is the victory of the country’s correct policies and firm resolve. This is the victory of your bravery, your courage, and your restraint. I repeat, this is the victory of your bravery, your courage, and your restraint.
Victory to these brave soldiers.
Future Horizons & Subsequent Milestones
Administrative bodies and departmental task forces will maintain active oversight across designated implementation cycles, ensuring scheduled deliverables translate into tangible public outcomes.
