New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday rejected a ceasefire proposal made by the Maoists, saying that if the militants want to surrender and lay down arms, they are welcome and the security forces will not fire a single shot at them.
“Recently a letter was written to spread confusion, which said that what has happened so far was a mistake, a ceasefire should be declared and we (Naxalis) want to surrender,”” Shah said.” I want to say that there will be no ceasefire. If you want to surrender, there is no need for a ceasefire. Put down your weapons, not a single shot will be fired.”
‘Naxal free India’
He said if the Naxals wanted to surrender, they would be given a grand welcome with a beneficial rehabilitation policy. “Addressing the concluding session of a seminar on “”Naxal-free India””, Shah targeted left-wing parties for giving ideological support to left-wing extremism and rejected their argument that lack of development led to Maoist violence.”
“He said it was because of “”red terror”” that development did not reach many parts of the country for decades.” “The Home Minister said, “”I want to tell you that there will be no ceasefire.” If you want to surrender, put down your weapons, not a single shot will be fired. If you surrender, you will be greeted by spreading a red carpet.”
“Operation Black Forest”
Shah said this while reacting to the ceasefire proposal given by the CPI (Maoists) after the elinting of several top Naxals, including ‘Operation Black Forest’ run by the security forces on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border some time ago.
The minister said that many people believe that stopping the killings being carried out by Naxals is enough to eradicate Naxalism from India. However, he said that this is not true because Naxalism flourished in India because its ideology was nurtured by the people of the society itself.
Why did the Naxal problem arise?
“Why did the Naxal problem arise, grow and develop in the country?” Who gave them ideological support? Until Indian society understands this, the concept of Naxalism and the people of society who provided ideological support, legal support and financial support, the fight against Naxalism will not end.”
“He added, “”We have to identify and understand those who continue to nurture Naxal ideology.””” Shah asserted that the country will be free from Naxalism by March 31, 2026
