Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel at the CoBRA Operations Base in Karanpur, in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, continuing his tradition of spending the festival with India’s armed forces.
Modi paid tribute to fallen CRPF heroes at the camp memorial and joined security forces as they danced to traditional tribal songs. He distributed sweets to the personnel, including women members of the force, and said he had come on behalf of 140 crore Indians to thank them for their sacrifices, dedication and service.
First Diwali free of Naxalism, Modi says
Addressing the personnel, the Prime Minister described the festival as particularly significant, claiming it was the first Diwali in which every district in the country was free from Naxalism and crores of citizens had overcome the fear associated with Maoist violence. He credited security personnel with playing a central role in the change.
Bastar, once severely affected by the insurgency, is entering a new phase of development because of the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces, Modi said, adding that the region which was once a Naxal stronghold has been transformed.
Warning against ideological Naxalism
The Prime Minister also warned that the threat had not completely disappeared. While armed Naxalites have been eliminated from several forest areas, he said, what he described as “dimagi Naxals” — those spreading opposition to the Constitution and democracy — remained a concern.
CoBRA, short for Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, is the CRPF’s elite counter-insurgency arm, purpose-built for jungle warfare in the dense forests of south Chhattisgarh. The Karanpur base has historically served as the primary launchpad for operations into Abujhmad and Bastar.
The visit marked Modi’s 13th consecutive Diwali celebration with security personnel since becoming Prime Minister, according to reports. The Centre has announced major changes to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has described the Northeast as India’s first frontier. The Bastar visit places the spotlight on the personnel serving in one of India’s most demanding internal security theatres.
#NarendraModi #Diwali #Bastar #CoBRA #CRPF #Chhattisgarh #Naxalism
