Srinagar, Sep 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Narendra Modi government had taken several steps to strengthen India’s internal security, highlighting what he described as a decline in terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the weakening of Naxalism and progress in the Northeast.
“Since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of this country, the Government of India’s Home Ministry has taken several steps to strengthen the country’s internal security,” Shah said.
He said that when Modi became Prime Minister, the country was facing three major security challenges — growing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxalism and several armed groups in the Northeast that were keeping the region disturbed.
“When Modi ji became Prime Minister, the country was facing three major problems. Jammu and Kashmir and the growing terrorism there, Naxalism, and groups of several armed organisations in the Northeast that were keeping the Northeast disturbed,” he said.
Shah also recalled the wider internal security challenges facing the country at the time, including a series of bomb blasts and large protests over women’s safety.
“Besides this, on the internal security front, the country was very troubled by several bomb blasts everywhere. There were very large protests for the safety of women, and it was at that time that Modi ji took over as the Prime Minister of the country,” he said.
Looking back at the period since 2019, Shah said the abrogation of Article 370 had led to a significant decline in separatist sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir.
“From 2019 till now, when we look back under the leadership of Modi ji, after the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a significant reduction in the feeling of separatism,” he said.
He claimed that terrorism-related figures in Jammu and Kashmir had steadily declined and were moving towards zero, while the Union Territory had progressed on the path of development.
“The figures of terrorism are gradually shrinking and appear to be moving towards zero. And Jammu and Kashmir has moved forward on the path of development,” Shah said.
He also said successful efforts had been made to bridge what he described as the emotional distance between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India.
“There have also been successful efforts to erase the distance of hearts that existed between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India,” he said.
On Naxalism, Shah said the five-decade-old problem had effectively become a thing of the past.
“The five-decade-old problem of Naxalism has today remained in the past,” he said.
Referring to the concept of a “Red Corridor” stretching from Tirupati to Pashupatinath, Shah said armed groups had laid down their weapons, surrendered and were seeking to join the mainstream.
“All those who imagined a Red Corridor from Tirupati to Pashupatinath have today laid down their arms, surrendered and come forward to join the mainstream,” he said.
Shah also highlighted developments in the Northeast, claiming that around 10,000 people had laid down their arms and that the Government of India had signed more than 14 agreements with armed groups.
“Similarly, in the Northeast too, approximately 10,000 people have laid down their arms, and the Government of India has entered into more than 14 agreements with them. Today, the Northeast too has, in a way, started moving on the path of development,” he said.
