Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday strongly criticised the Congress over its governance in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. He claimed that the state failed to connect with tribal communities, which pushed many towards Maoist ideology.

Links Naxalism to Past Political Decisions

Shah traced the roots of Naxalism back several decades. He said the problem grew during earlier governments and was not handled properly at the beginning.

He referred to the time of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and said early warning signs were ignored, allowing the movement to expand.

“The root cause of Naxalism is not the demand for development. It is an ideology that Indira Gandhi embraced in 1970 to win the presidential election. Naxalism spread because of this Leftist ideology."

Red Corridor Once Spread Across Multiple States

Shah highlighted the scale of the insurgency during its peak years. He said nearly a dozen states were affected, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

These areas formed what is known as the “Red Corridor.”

“The rule of law had ended there. Crores of people lived in poverty, and thousands of young lives were lost," he said.

Heavy Human and Security Costs

Shah said the conflict caused major loss of life. He stated that around 20,000 young people died over the years due to Naxal violence.

He also pointed out that Naxal groups relied heavily on weapons taken from security forces. According to him, about 92% of their arms were looted from police.

He said these numbers show how serious the challenge of left-wing extremism had become.

Government Claims Situation Has Improved

Shah said the situation has improved significantly in recent years. He credited better governance, development work, and stronger security operations for reducing Naxal influence.

He added that these efforts have helped restore control in areas that were once heavily affected.