PM Modi Visits Bastar’s CoBRA Base to Celebrate Diwali With Forces

PM Modi Celebrates Diwali with Security Forces in Bastar

PM Modi visits CoBRA base in Karanpur

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today visited the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, to celebrate Diwali with security forces deployed in the region. The base has served as the training base and launch pad for counter-Naxal operations in Bastar and Abujhmad.

Addressing the jawans, PM Modi said that crores of Indians across the nation and the world were celebrating the sacred festival of lights with their loved ones. He recalled his Diwali celebrations with brave soldiers at several locations, from Kargil and Lepcha in the Himalayas to Sir Creek on the coast and aboard INS Vikrant in the ocean.

“At the borders and within the country, the sentinels of the nation who protect the country, the brave sons of Maa Bharati, all of you are my loved ones, all of you are a part of my family,” remarked Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister said that the 2026 Diwali was truly special because it marked the first festival of lights after India won its decades-old battle against Maoist terror and rendered every district Naxal-free.

He said the achievement had enabled crores of citizens to overcome fear. PM Modi added that he had come to Bastar to celebrate this extraordinary milestone with the lakhs of security personnel who made it possible and to convey the gratitude of 140 crore citizens.

“Today I have come to express gratitude towards your sacrifice, dedication, and spirit of service,” affirmed PM Modi.

Tribute to forces fighting Naxalism

Quoting the ancient Sanskrit wisdom ‘Aabhyantaram Bhayam Rakshyam, Asaaram Baahyato Bhayam’, the Prime Minister said that external enemies cannot harm a nation whose internal security is strong. He added that such enemies raise their heads when internal security weakens.

PM Modi equated the internal role of security forces with the role played by the armed forces at the borders. He praised the boundless sacrifices of personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA, BSF, ITBP, SSB, IRB and state police forces.

He also paid tribute to Bastar Fighters commandos and women fighters. The Prime Minister extended festive greetings to the soldiers guarding the nation's frontiers.

“This country is indebted to you for your services, and crores of countrymen are proud of you,” affirmed Shri Modi.

Recalling the grim period when Left-Wing Extremism had gripped over 230 districts across nearly 20 states, the Prime Minister said the crisis had affected areas including Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

He said evening curfews of fear prevailed during that period. Voting rights were snatched, and up to 2,000 attacks took place annually. In Chhattisgarh alone, over 1,000 personnel laid down their lives, while countless soldiers lost limbs in IED blasts.

PM Modi also referred to the separate 2010 Dantewada attacks in which 76 CRPF personnel and 44 innocent civilians were killed.

He pointed out that between 2004 and 2013, more security personnel were martyred annually than Naxals killed. According to the Prime Minister, this had emboldened Maoist leaders.

‘Right policies’ and operational freedom

The Prime Minister said that no nation could progress with a passive approach towards its enemies. He said enemies had to be strategically crushed with high morale.

PM Modi stated that after 2014, the decades-old trend in which security forces suffered higher casualties was reversed. He described as a historic milestone the fact that not a single CRPF soldier lost their life on duty over the past year for the first time in 47 years.

“This is the victory of the country's right policies and firm willpower, and this is the victory of your valor, courage, and restraint,” asserted Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister said that success required both the right intention and the right policies. He said the government had taken a series of tough national security decisions, including several decisions that were not made public.

According to PM Modi, these decisions struck at Naxal and separatist funding and destroyed the fake currency nexus.

“Not only did this break their economic backbone, rather the entire supply line was choked, stopping the supply of weapons and curbing the movement and recruitment of Naxals,” noted PM Modi.

He said his government had granted full operational freedom to security forces to take every necessary decision.

The Prime Minister said the government had worked tirelessly, without publicity or ostentation, towards one goal: ensuring that no mother loses her child, no family is ruined and no youth takes up arms.

He highlighted the combination of sensitive security operations that broke the back of Maoist terror and a spirit of public service. According to PM Modi, this approach transformed lives and brought affected citizens behind the government and security forces.

He also thanked the local citizens present at the event for their vital cooperation.

“With a spirit of service, we transformed the lives of people in Naxal-affected areas,” remarked PM Modi.

Security gains and the fight against poverty

The Prime Minister said that working with the spirit of Nation First ensured peace and security. He added that it propelled the country to new developmental heights and expanded the participation of the poor and deprived in national progress.

PM Modi pointed to what he described as the nation's dual triumph over the past dozen years.

“In the past 12 years, the country has not only won the battle against Naxalism and separatism, rather the country has also won a major war against poverty,” asserted Shri Modi.

Highlighting the widely discussed World Bank report released just ahead of Deepavali, the Prime Minister noted that 50 crore Indians had escaped extreme poverty over the past 12 years.

He compared India's welfare architecture over the past 12 years to a Diwali Rangoli. He said that small, distinct lines come together in a Rangoli to form a grand picture, just as different government schemes had worked together.

PM Modi listed Jan Dhan banking, PM Awas pucca homes, collateral-free Mudra loans and SVANidhi support for street vendors. He also referred to Ayushman Bharat healthcare, free monthly rations, child education policies, Swachh Bharat and Har Ghar Jal.

According to the Prime Minister, these measures collectively ensured free medicine, free education and a free kitchen. They also removed basic anxieties from families that had earlier been trapped in generational poverty.

He said such families were now able to inherit a stronger future.

“The poor families whose entire lives used to be spent only in worry have now received the assurance of the government, and a new self-confidence has come into them,” noted Shri Modi.

The Prime Minister linked the victory over poverty directly to the fight against Naxalism. He said Naxalism had earlier trapped lakhs of innocent citizens in deprivation.

He said schools, hospitals, medical stores, polio vaccinations, mobile towers and industries had been blocked in affected areas. Railway tracks had also been bombed.

Development in Naxal-affected areas

PM Modi said the government had run a special development drive in Left-Wing Extremism-affected areas alongside the security campaign.

He said the drive had resulted in the construction of over 15,000 kilometers of roads, over 9,500 mobile towers and nearly 175 Eklavya schools.

The Prime Minister also mentioned around 50 ITIs and 50 Skill Development Centres. He said thousands of post offices, bank branches and ATMs had been brought to these areas.

The development work also included the rehabilitation of surrendered Naxals. Under PM JANMAN, water, electricity and roads were brought to remote tribal villages for the first time, he said.

“When we started the fight against Naxalism, at the same time we also ran special campaigns for the development of Naxal-affected areas,” noted PM Modi.

The Prime Minister said the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ campaign had given energy to the fight against poverty. He linked the campaign with the end of Naxal violence and the lifting of 50 crore people out of extreme poverty.

He cited the ongoing Bastar Olympics as a symbol of the transformation in the region.

“Today in this very Bastar, the Bastar Olympics are taking place, and children are trying their hand at sports, not guns,” remarked Shri Modi.

‘A launchpad, not a stopping point’

The Prime Minister said the milestones achieved by the country were a launchpad rather than a stopping point.

He said the nation's new flight would fulfil the centuries-old dreams of freedom fighters, border soldiers and personnel who had laid down their lives while fighting Naxalism and terrorism.

PM Modi urged the forces who live by the motto ‘Tera Gaurav Amar Rahe Maa, Hum Din Chaar Rahein Na Rahein’ to channel their spirit into new confidence.

“Now is the time to live for the nation and to take the nation to a new height,” affirmed Shri Modi.

Citing what he described as the nation's proven record of fulfilling major pledges, the Prime Minister referred to the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, the construction of household toilets and the expansion of vaccination coverage.

He expressed complete confidence in the security forces and citizens. PM Modi said India would similarly achieve its goals of eradicating poverty and building a Drug-Free, Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

He urged everyone to work towards witnessing these dreams become a reality before concluding with Deepavali greetings.

“Your sacrifices and hard work will become a strong foundation for the grand edifice of a Viksit Bharat,” affirmed PM Modi.