NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for the isolation of what he described as “dimaagi Naxals”, while asserting that armed Naxalism and Maoist violence were “breathing its last” in the country.Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said the country needed to remain vigilant against those who continued to propagate Naxal ideology even as armed Maoist violence declined.“Armed Naxals are gone, but ‘intellectual Naxals’ still lurking; we must be vigilant,” PM Modi said.PM Modi said Naxalism and Maoism had held large parts of the country in their grip for decades and caused the loss of thousands of lives.“In the 21st century, it is imperative that we eliminate the decades-old challenges that have held the country back. Naxalism and Maoism have destroyed the future of millions of young people. They have snatched away the young sons of countless mothers and shattered the dreams of families across the country. For nearly four decades, Naxalism had held large parts of India and a huge section of its population in its grip, ruling through the barrel of a gun and tearing the Constitution to shreds. More than 3,500 of our police and security personnel sacrificed their lives while protecting ordinary citizens. Naxalism had turned the land red with blood.”He said the government had made eliminating Naxalism a priority after coming to power in 2014.
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“When you gave us the opportunity to serve in 2014, we resolved on that very day to free the country from Naxalism.”PM Modi said the security situation in Naxal-affected areas had changed, with development and government initiatives reaching regions that had earlier witnessed violence.“Today, I am happy to say that Naxalite and Maoist violence no longer has the strength to sustain itself and is breathing its last. We are moving towards completely eliminating it. In areas where the bullets of Naxalites once rang out, where the soil was once stained with blood, today the same Naxal-affected regions are witnessing the tricolour of development, trust and endeavour flying high as they move towards becoming Naxalism-free.“PM Modi’s remarks came as part of his wider Independence Day address, in which he outlined the government’s priorities and challenges facing India as it moves towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
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