Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 8 November 2026, visited the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district to celebrate Diwali with security personnel, declaring that India had won its decades-long war against Naxalism — a milestone he described as historic and unprecedented. The visit marks the first time a sitting prime minister has observed the festival at this counter-insurgency base deep in the Bastar forests.

A Diwali in the Bastar Forests

The Karanpur base serves as both a training centre and launchpad for counter-Naxal operations across the Bastar region and Abujhmad — areas once considered among the most entrenched Maoist strongholds in the country. Modi, addressing the assembled personnel, said he had consciously chosen to spend the occasion with the security forces rather than in formal state celebrations, calling them an inseparable part of his family.

'Those who defend our nation at its borders and within, the protectors of our country and the courageous sons and daughters of Mother India, all of you are like family to me,' the Prime Minister said.

Modi Declares End of Naxal Threat

In his address, Modi framed this year's Diwali as qualitatively different from any in living memory, asserting that the security forces' sacrifice and determination had eliminated the Naxal threat from the Bastar region and opened the door to development. He went further, making a sweeping declaration about the national picture.

'After 40–50 years, a Diwali like this has come. This is the first Diwali when the nation has won its decades-long war 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 countrymen have overcome the fear of Naxalism,' he said.

The claim that every district is now free from Naxal influence marks a significant escalation in the government's public messaging on the insurgency, which has persisted across multiple states — including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha — for over four decades.

Credit to Security Forces

Modi was emphatic that the achievement belonged to the men and women in uniform rather than to any political or administrative effort alone. 'This is an incredible accomplishment, and a substantial amount of recognition should be attributed to you. It is a tribute to countless courageous individuals such as yourself, our soldiers and security forces,' he said, adding that the visit was specifically intended to honour their contribution during the festival.

The CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit, a specialised component of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been at the forefront of anti-Naxal operations in the region for years, sustaining significant casualties in its campaign against Maoist cadres.

Context: The Anti-Naxal Campaign

The Naxal insurgency, rooted in the late 1960s and reaching its peak geographic spread in the 2000s, has steadily contracted over the past decade following sustained security operations, developmental outreach, and surrender schemes. The Union Home Ministry has in recent years reported a sharp decline in Naxal-related violence and the number of affected districts. This comes amid a broader government push to accelerate infrastructure and connectivity projects in left-wing extremism (LWE)-affected areas, including road-building, mobile connectivity, and banking penetration in previously inaccessible zones like Abujhmad.

Notably, Modi's declaration that the war has been 'won' is likely to be scrutinised by security analysts, who have historically cautioned against declaring premature victory in a conflict characterised by periodic resurgence.

What Comes Next

With the counter-insurgency entering what the government describes as its final phase, attention is expected to shift to post-conflict rehabilitation — reintegrating surrendered cadres, delivering development dividends to Bastar's tribal communities, and sustaining the security apparatus. The coming months will test whether the gains on the ground translate into lasting peace or require continued vigilance.