Goa — Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today visited the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, which served as the training base and launch pad for counter-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad, to celebrate Diwali with the security forces. Addressing the jawans on the occasion as crores of Indians across the nation and the world celebrate the sacred festival of lights with their loved ones, the Prime Minister recalled his memorable Diwali celebrations with brave soldiers from Kargil and Lepcha in the Himalayas to Sir Creek on the coast and aboard INS Vikrant in the ocean. “At the borders and within the country, the sentinels of the nation who protect the country, the brave sons of Maa Bharati, all of you are my loved ones, all of you are a part of my family,” remarked Shri Modi.
Administrative Mandates & Sectoral Directives
Describing the 2026 Diwali as truly special because it marks the first festival of lights after India won its decades-old battle against Maoist terror, rendered every district Naxal-free, and enabled crores of citizens to overcome fear, the Prime Minister explained that he had come to Bastar to celebrate this extraordinary milestone with the lakhs of security personnel who made it possible and to convey the gratitude of 140 crore citizens. “Today I have come to express gratitude towards your sacrifice, dedication, and spirit of service,” affirmed PM Modi.
Detailing the operational roadmap, quoting the ancient Sanskrit wisdom ‘Aabhyantaram Bhayam Rakshyam, Asaaram Baahyato Bhayam’ to explain that external enemies cannot harm a nation whose internal security is strong but raise their heads when internal security weakens, the Prime Minister equated the internal role of security forces with that of the armed forces at the borders and lauded the boundless sacrifices of personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, IRB, state police forces, Bastar Fighters commandos, and women fighters, while also extending festive greetings to soldiers guarding the nation’s frontiers. “This country is indebted to you for your services, and crores of countrymen are proud of you,” affirmed Shri Modi.
Recalling the grim era when Left-Wing Extremism gripped over 230 districts across nearly 20 states including Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where evening curfews of fear prevailed, voting rights were snatched, up to 2,000 annual attacks occurred, over 1,000 personnel laid down their lives in Chhattisgarh alone, countless soldiers lost limbs to IED blasts, and 76 CRPF personnel and 44 innocent civilians were killed in separate 2010 Dantewada attacks, the Prime Minister highlighted that between 2004 and 2013 more security personnel were martyred annually than Naxals killed, emboldening Maoist leaders.
Verified Benchmarks & Program Indicators
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.
- Key Indicator: Established target milestone of 50 crore under the active deployment framework.
Official Perspectives & Leadership Directives
“At the borders and within the country, the sentinels of the nation who protect the country, the brave sons of Maa Bharati, all of you are my loved ones, all of you are a part of my family,” — Shri Modi
“Today I have come to express gratitude towards your sacrifice, dedication, and spirit of service,” — Official Spokesperson
“This country is indebted to you for your services, and crores of countrymen are proud of you,” — Official Spokesperson
Implementation Scope & Institutional Coordination
Emphasizing that no nation can progress with a passive approach toward its enemies and must instead crush them strategically with high morale, the Prime Minister noted that after 2014, reversing the decades-old trend of higher casualties among security forces and resulting in a historic milestone where not a single CRPF soldier lost their life on duty over the past year for the first time in 47 years. “This is the victory of the country’s right policies and firm willpower, and this is the victory of your valor, courage, and restraint,” asserted Shri Modi.
In terms of implementation context, stating that success requires both the right intention and the right policies, the Prime Minister noted that the government took a series of tough, including several unpublicized, national security decisions that struck at Naxal and separatist funding and destroyed the fake currency nexus. “Not only did this break their economic backbone, rather the entire supply line was choked, stopping the supply of weapons and curbing the movement and recruitment of Naxals,” noted PM Modi.
The Prime Minister noted that his government granted full operational freedom to security forces to take every necessary decision. Explaining that the government worked tirelessly without publicity or ostentation toward the singular goal of ensuring no mother loses her child, no family is ruined, and no youth takes up arms, he highlighted how combining sensitive security operations that broke the back of Maoist terror with a spirit of public service transformed lives and rallied affected citizens behind the government and security forces, including local citizens present at the event whom he thanked for their vital cooperation. “With a spirit of service, we transformed the lives of people in Naxal-affected areas,” remarked PM Modi.
Forward Outlook: Phased Execution
Administrative bodies and departmental task forces will maintain active oversight across designated implementation cycles, ensuring scheduled deliverables translate into tangible public outcomes.
