On Saturday (13th December), Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the success of Operation Kagar and stated that the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh would soon become Maoist-free.
He made the remarks during the closing event of the Bastar Olympics. Shah promised to work hard to turn Bastar into India’s top developed tribal area in the next five years.
VIDEO | Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh: Union Home Minister Amit Shah (@AmitShah) attends the closing ceremony of Bastar Olympics.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
The division-level Bastar Olympic 2025 event being held in Jagdalpur saw participation of around 3,500 players from all seven districts of Bastar division… pic.twitter.com/tkzEBZZyvR
At the event in Jagdalpur city, he honoured the winners of the second Bastar Olympics. Shah pointed out that a team from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is there scouting talent from the games. “Our government is setting things up so these players from Bastar can compete in the Commonwealth Games and even the 2036 Olympics,” he said.
Shah noted how Bastar is transforming fast from a place of fear to one full of promise. “Gunfire echoes have turned into school bells ringing. Building roads was once just a dream, but now railway tracks and highways are going up. And those ‘Lal Salaam’ calls? They’re now ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ cheers,” he added.
Participation in the Bastar Olympics jumped big time. Last year, 1.65 lakh players joined, and this year it’s 3.91 lakh, more than double. Women’s involvement grew almost three times over. That’s why Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked Chhattisgarh for the Khelo India Tribal Games, Shah said. He was thrilled to see over 700 surrendered Naxalites taking part, too.
“No place makes me happier than Bastar,” Shah said. “We pledged to wipe out Naxalism before 30th March 2026, and we’re right on the verge. Next year, when I return for the Olympics, Naxalism will be gone from India, including Chhattisgarh, and Bastar will be Naxal-free.”
VIDEO | Chhattisgarh: At the closing ceremony of Bastar Olympics, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (@AmitShah) says, “I have come to Bastar today and feel immense joy. We had resolved to end red terror across the country before March 30, 2026, and at Bastar Olympics 2025, we are… pic.twitter.com/JyvHJipJE2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
He committed to making the entire Bastar division covering Kanker, Kondagaon, Bastar, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, and Dantewada districts the country’s most developed tribal area by December 2030. “We’ll team up with the state government to give every person in Bastar a house, electricity, toilet, tap water, gas cylinder, 5 kg food grains daily, and free medical care up to Rs 5 lakh,” he promised.
Every village will get roads, power, banks within 5 km, and a strong network of primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs).
As the Cooperation Minister too, Shah talked about starting cooperative units to process forest produce. Bastar will lead all tribal districts in milk production, he added. He compared Maoism to a cobra blocking development, saying its end will spark a fresh wave of progress. The government has a strong rehabilitation plan for surrendered Naxalites and those hurt by them.
Shah made it clear: killing Maoists isn’t the goal. Operations by central and state forces aim to bring them back. Over 2,000 Naxal youth have surrendered, thanks in part to community leaders. “I urge leaders and activists to talk to armed Naxals and help them join the mainstream,” he said.
Shah, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and others gave a standing ovation to Maoist violence victims like Kishan Hapka, Saraswati Oyam, and Jugaka Kartam from Bijapur, plus Madkam Munna and Madvi Sukka from Sukma. These folks lost legs in IED blasts, but they raced in wheelchairs at the Olympics.
