Will the Year 2025 Signal the End of Naxalism in Madhya Pradesh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 2025 projected as the year of Maoist eradication in Madhya Pradesh.
- CM Mohan Yadav recognizes this as a national achievement.
- Recent surrenders signal a shift in the Maoist landscape.
- Government's commitment to regional development is reinforced.
- Future growth anticipated as Naxalism subsides.
Chhatarpur, Dec 9 (NationPress) Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated on Tuesday that the year 2025 will be marked by the complete eradication of Maoist activities from the state's territory. This longstanding issue has significantly hindered development in regions affected by red terror for decades.
Describing this as a national triumph, CM Yadav acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their decisive actions aimed at making the nation free from Maoism.
He expressed confidence that Madhya Pradesh is poised for accelerated growth in the upcoming years.
"We have bid a final farewell to the Maoists," CM Yadav remarked during a press briefing after leading a state Cabinet meeting in Khajuraho.
Reflecting on the end of Naxalism in Madhya Pradesh, he noted the tragic murder of Congress leader Likhiram Kawre in 1999, asserting that the previous Congress administration failed to take necessary actions against Naxalism.
"As Madhya Pradesh approaches a Maoist-free status, I extend my gratitude to PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their commitment to eradicating Naxalism from our country," he stated.
Recently, a significant development occurred with the surrender of 33 Maoists in the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone, marking the first such event in over three decades.
The CPI-Maoist MMC Zone includes adjoining districts from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh, such as Balaghat and parts of Mandla in Madhya Pradesh, and several districts in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Approximately 40-45 armed Maoist cadres were operational in two significant sections of the MMC Zone.
The northern MMC Zone encompasses Kanha-Bhoramdev division covering Balaghat and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and Kabirdham in Chhattisgarh, while the southern section includes the Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRB) division, where armed cadres remain active.
The series of mass surrenders began on November 28, when 11 cadres from the Darre Khasa Dalam surrendered in Gondia (Maharashtra), led by Vikas Nagpur alias Anant.
A senior police official overseeing anti-Maoist operations in Madhya Pradesh indicated that only six Maoists remain who have yet to surrender; otherwise, they face elimination.
Once these individuals surrender, the threat of armed Naxalism will be entirely eradicated from the state.