Amit Shah declares Chhattisgarh Naxal-free, accuses Congress of nurturing insurgency for decades
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah used Chhattisgarh's Rajyotsav stage to deliver a pointed political charge: Congress didn't just fail to eliminate Naxalism — it actively nurtured the insurgency for three decades. The declaration of a Naxal-free Chhattisgarh and a direct attack on Rahul Gandhi over 'parallel governments' signals the BJP's intent to own the anti-insurgency narrative heading into the next political cycle.
Key Takeaways
Home Minister Amit Shah declared Chhattisgarh Naxal-free at the Rajyotsav closing ceremony in Naya Raipur on 3 November 2026 .
Shah alleged that Congress nurtured Naxalism for 30 years instead of working to eradicate it.
He recalled that in 2010 , then Home Minister P Chidambaram suggested Naxalites need not lay down arms — a position Shah contrasted with the BJP's surrender-or-face-forces stance.
Shah claimed 90 per cent of Naxals surrendered and only 10 per cent were neutralised under the BJP's approach.
He accused Rahul Gandhi of supporting unconstitutional parallel governments and making a mockery of Parliament.
Shah announced five lakh peepal saplings to be planted in Raipur under Finance Minister OP Choudhary to make it a 'Peepal City'.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress, alleging that the party deliberately nurtured Naxalism for decades rather than working to eliminate it. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav in Naya Raipur, Shah also formally declared Chhattisgarh Naxal-free and extended appreciation to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police for their role in the anti-insurgency campaign.
Shah's core allegations against Congress
Shah alleged that the Congress, during its years in power at the Centre, had no genuine intent to eradicate Naxalism. 'There was never any genuine intent to eradicate Naxalism; instead, it was nurtured,' he said, adding that 'merely carrying a copy of the Constitution does not mean supporting it.'
He charged that for 30 years, those who took up arms were used as political pawns by the Congress. He recalled that in 2010, then Home Minister P Chidambaram had suggested that Naxalites need not even lay down their arms and should simply stop violence — a position Shah described as fundamentally inadequate. 'Violence cannot be stopped in this manner,' he asserted.
BJP's counter-approach and claimed results
Contrasting the Congress position with his own, Shah said he had clearly stated in Parliament that those wishing to surrender must lay down arms and join the mainstream, failing which security forces would act. He cited the outcome as decisive: 'Only 10 per cent were killed while 90 per cent surrendered,' he said.
Shah credited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai — and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre — with creating the conditions for Chhattisgarh's Naxal-free status. He noted that while development work had continued for 15 years under former Chief Minister Raman Singh, the Congress-led central government had shown no resolve to eliminate the insurgency during that period.
Attack on Rahul Gandhi and 'parallel governments'
Shah took direct aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of supporting Naxal-aligned 'unconstitutional parallel governments' in Parliament. He alleged that the Congress had 'made a mockery of Parliament' by staging what he called a fake parliamentary exercise. Shah questioned which provision of the Constitution permitted the parallel 'people's governments' historically run by Naxals.
He also challenged those who 'write long articles from elsewhere' on human rights to visit Bastar and witness development firsthand, asking whether human rights apply only to those who take up arms or equally to poor tribal communities whose lives were disrupted by insurgent violence. 'In areas where schools should have stood, buildings were blown up, and those who tried to build roads for development were burned alive,' he alleged.
Cultural revival and development push
Earlier in the event, Shah inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Park. He announced that under Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary, five lakh peepal saplings will be planted in Raipur with the goal of making it a 'Peepal City' and one of the world's most eco-friendly cities.
Shah highlighted ongoing efforts to promote Chhattisgarh's folk culture, including events like Bastar Pandum and the Bastar Olympics, which he said were reviving traditional attire, cuisine, and folk songs among lakhs of youth. Art forms such as Karma, Raut Nacha, and Pandwani, along with crafts including Dhokra art, bell-metal work, woodcraft, and Kosa silk, are being actively promoted. The 75-day Bastar Dussehra tradition, he added, has received a new identity under the Sai government.
The Home Minister also recalled the teachings of Guru Ghasidas and Guru Nanak Dev on equality, service, and truth, calling them the foundational ethos of Chhattisgarh. He invoked the legacy of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who carved out Chhattisgarh as a distinct state, describing the region as the maternal ancestral home of Lord Ram.
What comes next
Shah's declaration of Chhattisgarh as Naxal-free marks a symbolic milestone ahead of future electoral cycles in the state. The BJP government is expected to build on the anti-Naxal narrative and accelerate tribal development projects in Bastar and surrounding districts. The Congress has not yet formally responded to Shah's specific charges as of the time of reporting.
Point of View
It hands the BJP a powerful symbol ahead of future state elections. The charge that Congress 'nurtured' Naxalism for three decades is a recurring BJP attack line, but Shah's invocation of the 2010 Chidambaram episode gives it a specific, attributable anchor. What the declaration does not address is the longer road ahead: a Naxal-free Chhattisgarh requires sustained infrastructure, tribal welfare, and justice delivery in Bastar — areas where, critics argue, progress has been uneven. The human rights framing Shah challenged is unlikely to disappear; it will simply shift from insurgency to post-conflict governance accountability.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amit Shah declare about Chhattisgarh at the Rajyotsav ceremony?
Home Minister Amit Shah declared Chhattisgarh Naxal-free at the closing ceremony of the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav in Naya Raipur on 3 November 2026. He extended appreciation to the CRPF and Chhattisgarh Police for their role in the anti-insurgency campaign.
What did Amit Shah allege about Congress and Naxalism?
Shah alleged that Congress had nurtured Naxalism for 30 years rather than working to eradicate it, and that those who took up arms were used as political pawns by the party. He recalled that in 2010, then Home Minister P Chidambaram suggested Naxalites need not lay down their arms — which Shah said demonstrated a lack of genuine intent to end the insurgency.
Why did Amit Shah target Rahul Gandhi in his speech?
Shah accused Rahul Gandhi of supporting unconstitutional 'parallel governments' run by Naxals in Parliament and alleged that the Congress leader had made a mockery of Parliament by staging a fake parliamentary exercise. He charged Congress with a broader history of backing structures that undermined the Constitution.
What is the BJP's stated approach to Naxal surrender compared to the Congress?
Shah said the BJP's position, which he stated in Parliament, is that those wishing to surrender must lay down arms and join the mainstream — failing which security forces will act. He claimed this resulted in 90 per cent of Naxals surrendering and only 10 per cent being neutralised, contrasting it with the Congress-era approach of not requiring disarmament.
What development announcements did Amit Shah make at the Chhattisgarh Rajyotsav?
Shah announced that five lakh peepal saplings will be planted in Raipur under Finance Minister OP Choudhary to make it a 'Peepal City' and one of the world's most eco-friendly cities. He also inaugurated the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Park and highlighted cultural promotion initiatives including Bastar Pandum, Bastar Olympics, and support for folk art forms such as Karma, Raut Nacha, and Pandwani.
