From 2004 to 2014, under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the UPA government recognised the scale of the Naxal problem. It launched the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) and the much-publicised Operation Green Hunt. These initiatives, aimed at combining development with security, were steps in the right direction but faltered in execution. The UPA often took a defensive, reactive stance, relying heavily on soft-power tactics like outreach and socio-economic programs while treating force as a last resort. Even when security operations were initiated, they lacked sharp intelligence inputs and precision. Dialogue was offered to insurgents who never gave up violence, while coordination between central forces and state units remained patchy. As a result, the Naxal movement retained its grip over vast regions across central and eastern India, with high levels of violence and civilian casualties continuing deep into the UPA’s final years.
That changed in 2014. The NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought clarity, conviction, and coordination to the fight. The BJP’s approach has been firm: zero tolerance for armed insurgency, no talks until weapons are surrendered, and relentless pursuit of those who threaten national security. Under the leadership of Home Minister Amit Shah, the government has launched highly coordinated and intelligence-driven operations like Operation Prahar and Operation Octopus. These missions, powered by satellite surveillance, drone recon, and ground-level human intelligence, have dismantled key Maoist hideouts with minimal civilian collateral – a far cry from the UPA’s blunt-force approach.
But the NDA’s strategy has not been limited to the gun. It understands that development is a weapon too – but only when security comes first. Through schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Bharatmala Pariyojana, remote tribal regions once isolated and exploited by Naxals are now being connected to the rest of the country. These roads don’t just bring markets and schools closer – they bring accountability, administration, and law. The government’s rehabilitation policy has also borne fruit, with hundreds of former Naxals surrendering to embrace normal life through vocational training, financial incentives, and dignity.
Unmatched Results: Violence Down, Governance Up
The numbers back the narrative. As per Ministry of Home Affairs data, Naxal-related violence has fallen by a staggering 77%, and deaths of civilians and security forces are down by 85% since the peak UPA years. These are not just statistics – they reflect real lives saved, real families spared the trauma of violence, and real ground reclaimed from insurgents.
Operation Kagar: The Symbol of a Resurgent State
Operation Kagar, underway in the dense Karreguttalu forest along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border, stands as a testament to India’s renewed resolve against Maoist insurgency. Backed by the Modi government’s unwavering commitment, over 1,00,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed to dismantle one of the last strongholds of Left-Wing Extremism.
So far, three female Maoists have been neutralized in crossfire, and nearly 44 others have surrendered so far, choosing rehabilitation over rebellion. However, the absence of senior Maoist leaders has raised concerns that they may have escaped before security forces tightened their grip on the region.
Despite treacherous terrain and the threat posed by nearly 1,000 armed insurgents, the forces continue to press forward. Strategic hilltops have been secured, the national flag proudly hoisted, and combing operations are being intensified with drone surveillance and satellite intelligence. This is more than just an operation-it’s a clear declaration that the Indian state will not rest until every corner of its land is free from the shadow of insurgency.
This tough stance reflects the BJP’s long-standing policy of zero tolerance toward Maoist violence, which has taken thousands of innocent lives over the years. While certain activists in Hyderabad are calling for a halt to the operation, the government understands that lasting peace comes only after restoring order. And there is no question of holding talks with Maoists. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has also made it clear that the government cannot negotiate with those who choose violence, carry guns, and kill innocent people.
Congress & BRS: Calling for Truce, Echoing Past Failures
Yet, even as the nation moves forward, old mindsets remain. While BJP-led forces are taking the fight to the Maoists, opposition voices – especially from Congress and BRS – are calling for a pause.
Leaders like Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and KCR’s daughter K. Kavitha have openly suggested dialogue, echoing the same failed strategy the UPA once championed. Worse, there are troubling allegations that the Telangana Congress government may have allowed top Maoist operatives to slip across borders during key phases of Operation Kagar. Instead of supporting the national mission, they seem more focused on political appeasement – offering ideological cover under the garb of “social justice” and “dialogue.”
