Congress Dithered, BJP Delivered: How India’s Anti-Maoist War Turned the Tide

India's fight against Naxalism has evolved from uncertainty and inaction to a phase of bold and strategic countermeasures. The era of the UPA government, led by Congress, was marked by indecisiveness, ideological confusion, and a soft stance that allowed Maoist networks to grow and deepen their roots in the heartland. This approach proved disastrous, costing lives and allowing insurgents to terrorise innocent people. Today, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India is proving that strength, clarity, and a focused strategy can turn the tide - with the goal of a Naxal-free nation firmly in sight by March 2026.

UPA Era: Indecision and Inaction

During the UPA's tenure, the handling of Maoist insurgency was riddled with mistakes. The government oscillated between hollow rhetoric and ineffective actions, often avoiding confrontation with the Maoists and instead pursuing futile negotiations. The 2010 Dantewada ambush-where 76 CRPF personnel were killed-was a glaring example of the government's failure to safeguard its forces or crack down on Maoist expansion. Despite the horror, the response from the government was muted; no major policy shift followed, and accountability remained elusive.

The situation worsened in 2013 with the Darbha Valley attack that killed 29 people, including senior Congress leaders- yet the government's response was tepid. The far-left ideology within the Congress and its allies created a culture of hesitance. The National Advisory Council, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, included members sympathetic to Maoists and critical of strong state action. Their influence meant that the government often prioritised political correctness over decisive security measures.

Between 2004 and 2010, Maoist violence escalated sharply. In 2004, there were 1,533 reported incidents and 566 deaths. By 2010, those numbers surged to 2,213 incidents and 1,005 deaths. Operation Green Hunt, launched in 2009, was marred by poor planning, weak coordination, and internal disagreements. Home Minister P. Chidambaram, one of the few within the government pushing for a tough approach, was openly countered by leaders like Digvijaya Singh, who instead advocated dialogue.

The 2009 ban on the CPI (Maoist) was more symbolic than effective. The insurgents continued to inflict heavy losses on security forces and tightened their grip on neglected tribal regions, offering parallel governance and justice where the state had failed to reach.

The Modi-Shah Strategy: Focused, Firm, and Effective

In contrast to the past, the Modi government has adopted a strategic approach rooted in hard security combined with development initiatives. The National Policy and Action Plan (2015) laid out a multi-pronged approach: strike the Maoists hard while delivering development to long-ignored regions.

The results are clear. Operations are now more focused, tech-driven, and better coordinated. The launch of Operation Kagar in January 2024, India's largest anti-Naxal campaign to date, is aimed at neutralising Maoist strongholds by March 2026. Over 24,000 personnel from the CRPF, CoBRA battalions, district reserve guards, and state police forces are involved, supported by advanced drones, intelligence tools, and local informants.

So far, over 400 insurgents have surrendered, while key Maoist leaders have been killed or captured. The ability of Maoists to move freely in forested terrain has been drastically reduced. Caches of weapons, explosives, and even hidden hospitals have been uncovered in areas like Karreguttalu. Their command structures are being dismantled.

Development has played a crucial role alongside the crackdown. Infrastructure projects-especially in roads, telecom, and banking-are transforming previously neglected areas. Over 7,700 mobile towers have been installed, thousands of kilometres of roads constructed, and new schools, clinics, and skill centres are up and running. This dual push is undermining the Maoists' influence.

The impact is visible: Maoist-affected districts have dropped from 35 in 2014 to just six in 2025. Reported incidents have halved-from over 17,000 under the UPA to fewer than 8,000 today. Maoist-related deaths have fallen from nearly 7,000 to just over 2,000.

Strong Leadership, Clear Direction

Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have made it clear-there will be no compromise with terrorism. Their stance is firm: Maoist violence will be crushed, and tribal regions will be uplifted through development. The results speak for themselves: since 2024, over 1,600 Maoists have surrendered, and their top brass is either eliminated or in hiding.

Refuting the Opposition's Calls for Negotiations

Opposition parties like Congress, along with some regional allies and communist factions, advocate for dialogue and negotiations. Their approach ignores the lessons of the past-when talks only provided Maoists a breathing space to regroup, rearm, and increase violence. Their calls for ceasefires come at a moment when the Maoists are at their weakest, and the security forces are making decisive gains.

History shows that Maoists view negotiations as strategic pauses, not pathways to peace. Their violent record, including brutal attacks on civilians and security personnel, makes it clear that their ideology is rooted in violence and revolution. The BJP's stance is simple: India's security and sovereignty come first. We believe peace is best achieved through strength, not appeasement.

BJP-Ruled States Lead by Example

States like Chhattisgarh under BJP rule have demonstrated what effective, uncompromising action looks like. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma has dismissed calls for peace talks when the Maoists are in retreat, emphasizing that operations will continue until they surrender arms. Since 2023, the BJP government has opened dozens of security camps, increased patrols, and launched joint operations with neighboring states.

Operation Kagar

Operation Kagar has emerged as the defining push to dismantle the Maoist threat. Focused on regions like Bastar, it is backed by real-time intelligence and a coordinated strike force. In recent months, hundreds of Maoists have been neutralized, weapons seized, and key hideouts captured. The elimination of leaders like Basavaraju marks a turning point.

The difference between then and now couldn't be more obvious. While the UPA wavered, the Modi-Shah leadership has shown India will act decisively when national security is at stake. With a clear-eyed approach combining force and development, the country is not only defeating insurgency but also building hope in regions long forgotten.

The fight against Naxalism is not just a military campaign; it is a mission to restore trust, rebuild lives, and secure India's future.