Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 31 October 2026 declared that India had fulfilled its pledge to eliminate Left-wing extremism, stating that no district in the country remained Naxal-affected by March 2026 and that the movement's backbone had been broken. Modi made the announcement at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas gathering in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat, on the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Declaration and What It Means

Addressing the National Unity Day celebrations, Modi recalled a pledge he had made at the same venue a year earlier — that India would not rest until it was completely free of Naxalism and Maoist violence. 'Today, when we are gathered here exactly one year later, that resolve of the country has been fulfilled. The backbone of Naxalism has been broken,' he said.

The Prime Minister cited a sharp reduction in the geographical spread of Left-wing extremism: in 2015, as many as 126 districts across the country were classified as affected. By March 2026, that number had reportedly fallen to zero, according to Modi's remarks.

Development Reaching Former Conflict Zones

Modi said districts that had endured decades of violence and bloodshed were now being integrated into the mainstream of development. He pointed to expanding road networks, growing mobile connectivity, and improved access to schools and healthcare facilities in these previously underserved regions.

'Young people who had earlier faced uncertainty are now getting new opportunities in education, employment and other fields,' he said. The government has framed its anti-Naxal campaign as inseparable from its broader development agenda for historically marginalised areas.

Tribute to Security Personnel

Modi paid tribute to security forces personnel who had lost their lives in counter-Naxal operations. He welcomed families from formerly Naxal-affected regions who had been specially invited to attend this year's National Unity Day event at Ekta Nagar.

The parade at the venue featured anti-Naxal units from several states along with central forces. Event commentary highlighted their deployments, operations, and the personnel killed in the line of duty — underscoring the human cost of the decades-long campaign.

Broader Security and Governance Narrative

The Prime Minister said, 'India is now more secure and more determined. The increased confidence among citizens is linked to the country's achievements and the sensitivity of the government and administrative system.'

This comes amid the government's sustained push to present internal security gains alongside economic development milestones. Notably, the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — observed annually on 31 October to honour Patel's legacy of national integration — has increasingly served as a platform for the Centre to highlight achievements in areas of territorial and internal cohesion.

What Comes Next

With the government claiming a Naxal-free map for the first time in decades, attention will now shift to whether the development infrastructure pledged for former conflict zones is delivered at scale — and whether demobilised cadres and affected communities receive the rehabilitation support required to make the peace durable.