HYDERABAD: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Sunday said the number of districts in the country affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) has come down sharply from 125 to just 11 over the past decade.
In a media statement, Kishan said hundreds of Maoists have surrendered following Operation Kagar launched by the Union government, and that efforts are on to bring more of them back into the mainstream. He expressed confidence that there would be no Maoists left in the country by March 31, 2026.
He said over 300 Maoists have surrendered in the past three days, many of them Telugu-speaking. “Due to Maoist violence, development was long delayed in many parts of the country. Now, the Union government is focusing on improving people’s wealth and health,” he said.
Kishan said the Constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar ensures peaceful coexistence and guarantees every citizen’s rights. Expressing concern over the lack of schools, roads and hospitals in LWE-affected regions, he said these areas are now witnessing progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The focus, he added, is on youth welfare and improving educational opportunities.
Bandi warns TG politicians against supporting Maoists
Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a post on X, warned Telangana politicians allegedly supporting armed groups while “preaching democracy on stage” to sever their ties or face exposure. He said central agencies, under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are tracing networks that protect corruption, criminality and extremism. “They will be rooted out without mercy or leniency,” he said. “Whoever it may be, however big you think you are — step aside if you’re part of the problem. In matters of the nation’s internal security, even the tallest leaders will fall if they stand on the wrong side,” he warned.