Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday, honouring their contribution to the country’s fight against Left-Wing Extremism.
The base served as a training centre and launch pad for anti-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad. Addressing security personnel, Modi said the 2026 Diwali was special as it marked the first festival of lights after the country achieved a major victory against Maoist terror.
He said the government had succeeded in making every district Naxal-free, enabling millions of people to live without fear. The Prime Minister said he had visited Bastar to express the gratitude of 140 crore Indians towards the security personnel for their sacrifice, dedication and service.
Recalling his previous Diwali celebrations with soldiers in Kargil, Lepcha, Sir Creek and aboard INS Vikrant, Modi said security personnel guarding the country’s borders and maintaining internal security were part of his family.
He paid tribute to personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, state police forces, Bastar Fighters and other security units. He also acknowledged the sacrifices made by women personnel and local communities in the fight against Naxalism.
Recalling the challenges posed by Left-Wing Extremism in the past, Modi said Naxal violence had once affected more than 230 districts across nearly 20 states. He referred to attacks on security personnel and civilians, including the 2010 Dantewada attacks, in which 76 CRPF personnel and 44 civilians were killed in separate incidents.
The Prime Minister said the government’s approach after 2014 had significantly changed the security situation, reversing the earlier trend of higher casualties among security forces. He also claimed that no CRPF personnel had lost their lives on duty during the past year, marking a historic achievement in the force’s 47-year history.
Modi attributed the success to strong political will, effective policies and operational freedom granted to security forces. He said several measures had been taken to disrupt the financial networks, weapons supply chains and recruitment channels of Maoist groups.
He added that the government’s strategy combined security operations with development initiatives and public service in Naxal-affected regions. The cooperation of local communities, he said, had played an important role in restoring peace and transforming lives.
Highlighting the country’s development achievements, Modi said India had made progress not only in combating Naxalism and separatism but also in reducing poverty over the past 12 years. Referring to a recent World Bank report, he said around 50 crore Indians had moved out of extreme poverty during this period.
The Prime Minister cited various welfare initiatives, including Jan Dhan bank accounts, PM Awas Yojana, Mudra loans, PM SVANidhi, Ayushman Bharat, free foodgrain distribution, Swachh Bharat and Har Ghar Jal, as measures that had improved the living conditions of poor families.
Comparing these welfare schemes to the different patterns of a Diwali rangoli coming together to form a larger picture, Modi said the initiatives had collectively strengthened access to housing, healthcare, education, sanitation, drinking water and financial support.
He said these measures had reduced the everyday struggles of poor families and given them greater confidence and hope for a better future.
