India Has Achieved Milestone of Becoming Naxal-Free, Amit Shah Says at CZC Meeting

“It is a matter of great joy that this meeting is being held in Bastar after achieving the historic milestone of a Naxal-free India,” Shah said.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired the 26th meeting of the Central Zonal Council (CZC) in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, where he declared that India has achieved the historic milestone of becoming Naxal-free through coordinated action by security forces, intelligence agencies, state governments and the Centre.

The high-level meeting brought together Chief Ministers and senior officials from Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to review developmental priorities, governance issues and regional cooperation initiatives under the framework of India's federal structure.

The meeting was organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the Chhattisgarh Government serving as the host.

Chief Ministers and Senior Officials Attend Meeting

The meeting was attended by:

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai;

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav;

• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath;

• Uttarakhand Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, and

• Senior officials from the Central Government and participating states.

The Central Zonal Council comprises the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Amit Shah Declares Major Success Against Naxalism

Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah described the meeting in Bastar as symbolic and historic because it was taking place after India had achieved the major milestone of eliminating Naxalism.

"It is a matter of great joy that this meeting is being held in Bastar after achieving the historic milestone of a Naxal-free India," Shah said.

He credited the success to the bravery of security personnel and the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies.

"The entire credit for making India Naxal-free goes to the hard work and bravery of the jawans of our security forces," he said.

According to Shah, intelligence agencies collected precise inputs which enabled coordinated action between:

• State police forces;

• Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and

• Central agencies.

Development Challenges Still Remain

Despite the security achievements, the Home Minister stressed that the broader struggle for development in formerly Naxal-affected regions was far from over.

"Our fight is not over yet because the Naxal-affected areas have been lagging behind in the race for development for nearly five decades," Shah said.

He emphasised that these regions must now be brought at par with the rest of the country in terms of:

• Infrastructure;

• Education;

• Healthcare;

• Employment opportunities, and

• Economic development.

The Home Minister also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the country's success in eliminating Naxalism.

Chhattisgarh Leadership Praised

Shah praised the Chhattisgarh Government for its close coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs during anti-Naxal operations.

He said the state leadership ensured that all necessary support and leadership were provided wherever required.

"This is the result of their efforts that today Bastar has become Naxal-free," he stated.

Bastar has historically been one of the most heavily affected regions by Left Wing Extremism in India.

Central Zone Declared Free from Disputes

The Home Minister also highlighted that the Central Zone had become free not only from Naxalism but also from major inter-state disputes.

He said all pending issues between the states and between the states and the Centre had been resolved through regular dialogue and cooperation.

"As a result, in a vast region covering four states, no disputes remain either among the four states or between these states and the Centre," Shah said.

He described this as a major achievement for India's federal governance system.

Central Zone Strategically Important for India

Shah said the Central Zonal Council region stretches from the Himalayan region to the Gangetic plains and further into mineral-rich central Indian plateau regions.

According to him, the region plays a vital role in:

• National food security;

• Mineral production;

• Industrial development;

• Cultural heritage, and

• Religious tourism.

He noted that Chhattisgarh's geographic position connecting nearly seven states gives the Central Zone enormous strategic importance.

Zonal Council Mechanism Strengthened Under Modi Government

The Home Minister said the Narendra Modi government had transformed the Zonal Council mechanism into a more effective and result-oriented platform.

He provided comparative figures showing increased activity since 2014:

• Between 2004–2014, only 11 Zonal Council meetings were held;

• Between 2014–2026, the number increased to 32 meetings;

• Standing Committee meetings rose from 14 to 35 during the same period.

Shah also noted that:

• 569 issues were discussed between 2004–2014;

• 1,729 issues were discussed between 2014–2026;

• Nearly 80% of these issues have been resolved.

Focus on Jal Jeevan Mission and Rural Development

The Home Minister urged states to accelerate implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission-2 and ensure tap water connectivity reaches every household.

He also highlighted the importance of:

• Health;

• Nutrition;

• Social welfare;

• Education reforms;

• Financial inclusion, and

• Power sector improvements.

Shah specifically called for stronger efforts to reduce school dropout rates and improve educational quality.

He appealed to states to ensure that at least 50% of developmental attention remains focused on:

• Rural development, and

• Individual empowerment schemes.

Banking Access and DBT Expansion Prioritised

The Home Minister stressed the importance of expanding banking access within a five-kilometre radius in all regions.

He said this is essential because most welfare schemes now rely on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems.

"Therefore, all states need to make concrete and serious efforts in this direction," Shah said.

Stronger Measures on Crime and Justice Delivery

Shah also focused extensively on criminal justice reforms and law enforcement efficiency.

He said timely DNA testing in POCSO and rape cases could increase conviction rates to nearly 100%.

The Home Minister urged High Courts to establish special courts for cases pending for more than five years.

He also appealed to states to modernise their 1930 cybercrime helplines in line with the Ministry of Home Affairs' standard model.

Crackdown on Adulteration and Public Awareness

Shah called for stricter public disclosure measures against businesses involved in adulteration cases.

He suggested that whenever penalties are imposed for adulteration, authorities should widely publicise the names of guilty shops and establishments.

According to him, this would increase public awareness and discourage such illegal practices.

Push for Faster Criminal Justice System

The Home Minister stated that the new criminal justice laws — referred to as the "three Naveen Nyaya Sanhitas" — have been implemented effectively but still require stronger enforcement.

He set an ambitious target of ensuring that every criminal case, including those reaching the Supreme Court, should be disposed of within three years before 2029.

"Just as we have freed the country from Naxalism, similarly, we must achieve the target of disposing of every criminal case - right up to the Supreme Court - within three years, before 2029," Shah said.

Emphasis on Cooperative Federalism

The meeting underscored the Centre's continued emphasis on cooperative federalism, regional coordination and development-driven governance.

Officials said the Central Zonal Council will continue to serve as a key platform for addressing inter-state issues, improving coordination and advancing shared development priorities across the region.