Time for final assault on Left-wing extremism: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said Left-wing extremism (LWE) was on its last legs in India and the country would be rid of the problem by March 2026.

Addressing a review meeting attended by chief ministers of eight LWE-affected states today, Shah said for the first time in 30 years, deaths due to LWE violence in India had fallen below 100,  and it's a huge achievement.

He said in all 13,000 LWE cadres had surrendered arms and joined the mainstream in the last ten years.

Shah appealed to youngsters still waging Maoist battles to surrender and seek benefits of Centre's "lucrative rehabilitation schemes."

"Naxal violence has never and will never help anyone," said Shah, adding that 80% of the Naxal cadre strength of the country was not located in Chhattisgarh alone and it was time for the final assault on Left-wing extremism.

"The time for final assault, a final push against LWE is now,' the minister said.

As of today, India has 38 LWE-affected districts with 15 of them in Chhattisgarh alone.

The states affected by the menace include Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.