Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Bastar in Chhattisgarh on Sunday to celebrate Diwali with security personnel, The Hindu reported.
"Heading to Bastar to celebrate Diwali with our brave security forces. This is an area where Naxalism once held sway and now, development is flourishing," Modi said in a post on X, which the Prime Minister's Office released through the Press Information Bureau. "I am going to salute our brave security personnel for their sacrifices, selfless service and unwavering devotion to the nation."
Who he is meeting
The Central Armed Police Forces and the Chhattisgarh Police have been deployed in Bastar and were deeply involved in operations against Naxals, The Hindu reported, citing PTI.
Background: why Bastar
Bastar was for decades a stronghold of the Maoist insurgency. On March 31 this year, the government announced that the country was free of Naxalism after many leaders and cadres were killed and hundreds of others surrendered, according to The Hindu. The Prime Minister's message on Sunday tied the visit to that change, saying development is now flourishing where Naxalism once held sway.
A yearly tradition
In a video message on Saturday, Modi wished people peace, prosperity and happiness and said that, as everyone knows, he celebrates Diwali every year with the country's soldiers. "This time also I will continue the tradition," he said.