LWE will be completely eliminated in before March 2026: Union Home Minister

Posted 26 Aug 2024

2 min read

While addressing a press conference on Left Wing Extremism (LWE), Union Minister for Home Affairs stated that LWE will be completely eradicated in the country before March 2026.

LWE or Naxal insurgency in India began with a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari (West Bengal), inspired by Maoist ideology, advocating for the violent overthrow of the political system.

Current Status of LWE in India

Factors responsible for Persistence of LWE

Socio-economic: Land alienation, social exclusion based on castes, sub-optimal access to basic amenities like education, healthcare, etc.
Governance issues: Ineffective implementation of Forest Rights Act and PESA Act, state-highhandedness as reflected in policies like Salwa Judum, etc.
LWE strategies: Exploitation of local grievances, deep roots in local communities, ideological appeal of LWE, etc.

LWE-affected districts: 38 districts across 9 states as against 96 in 2010.
Most LWE Affected Districts (contributing approximately 90% of the LWE violence): Reduced to 12 in 2024 against 35 in 2018.

Measures taken to counter LWE in India

National Policy and Action Plan (2015) to address LWE which led to development of operational strategy ‘SAMADHAN’ which included Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, etc.
Security related measures: Security Related Expenditure scheme, Scheme for construction of Fortified Police Stations, redeployment of CRPF Battalions, etc.
- It also included offensive strategies such as joint operations to entangle naxals, financial choking, establishment of separate vertical within NIA for investigation, etc.
Developmental interventions: Civic Action Programme, Road Connectivity Project, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Aspirational District Programme, etc.