Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that Bharat has become unstoppable with its economy transitioning from being among the ‘fragile 5’ to ‘top five’ in the world.
He also said it is his guarantee that the day is not far when the nation would be free of Maoist terror, pointing to more and more Maoists shunning the gun and joining the mainstream.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit at Bharat Mandapam, the PM said it was but natural to talk about an “unstoppable India” at a time when the world today faces various roadblocks and speed-breakers. “We will neither pause nor slow down; 140 crore Indians will move forward together with full momentum,” he said.
The PM said India’s inflation was below 2% while its growth rate was over 7%, while flagging tech giant Google’s announcement of $15 billion investment in the AI sector and trade with G7 nations surging by 60%. “Today, from chips to ships, India is self-reliant and confident in every sphere…India’s growth is shaping global opportunities,” he said.
The PM said Maoist terror was a significant issue as far as the nation’s security and the future of its youth was concerned. He hit out at the previous Congress regime for nurturing “urban Naxals” and turning a blind eye to the violence unleashed by them. “The urban Naxal ecosystem which dates back to Congress rule…they were so overpowering… that censorship would keep any incident of Maoist terror from reaching the people,” he said.
The country used to engage in debates around terrorism, Article 370, but the urban Naxals who had taken over significant institutions used to keep the nation in the dark about Maoist terrorism, the PM said.
Those who place the Constitution on their foreheads today, the PM said, are the same people who worked day and night to ensure the safety of the Maoist terrorists who didn’t believe in the very Constitution. “Governments used to be elected but those would not be recognised in the Red Corridor. It was difficult to step out of homes after dark; the same people entrusted with the safety of the people would need security to move around,” he said.
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Modi said Maoist terrorists did not allow schools and hospitals to be constructed and destroyed the existing ones. “For decades, a large part of the baron remained insulated from the light of development. The biggest loss in this respect had to be borne by our Adivasi, Dalit and poor brothers and sisters…,” he said.
The PM said these individuals were now returning to the mainstream of development and openly acknowledging that they were on the wrong path. “They are now moving forward with faith in the Constitution of India,” he said.
“Eleven years ago, more than 125 districts were affected by Maoist terror. Today this has shrunk to just 11,” he said.
Thousands of Naxals had laid down their arms over the last decade, 303 in the last 75 hours, the PM said. “Only (in) 75 hours…this is a topic of significant satisfaction in my life…303 have surrendered…these are not ordinary Naxals…someone had a bounty of Rs 1 crore, some had a bounty of Rs 15 lakh, and some had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh,” the PM said, adding that this is going to be the brightest Diwali in areas which are now free of Maoist terror.
