Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar on Sunday, declaring the festival particularly special as India had won its decades-long battle against Naxalism and Maoist terror.
This is the first Diwali when the country has won its decades-long battle against Naxalism and Maoist terror. “You are all a part of my family. This time, I have come to celebrate Diwali in the forests of Bastar. This is a land where the menace of Naxalism once prevailed. This is the first Diwali when every district of the country is free from Naxalism. This is the first Diwali when crores of countrymen have overcome the fear of Naxalism. This is an extraordinary achievement, and a great deal of credit goes to you. It belongs to millions of brave men and women like you, our soldiers and security personnel. He began the practice at the Siachen Base Camp, the world’s highest battlefield. These engagements, spanning icy glaciers, desert outposts, high-altitude posts and naval platforms, reflect an effort to boost the morale of personnel who remain on duty while the rest of the country celebrates with family. During his visits to military locations on Diwali, PM often interacts informally, shares sweets and emphasises that the armed forces are an extended family.
“Diwali in 2026 is truly special. After 40–50 years, such a Diwali has come for you. PM Modi’s annual visits to military locations on Diwali have become a consistent feature of his tenure since 2014. In subsequent years, he marked the festival with troops in the Punjab sector near Amritsar in 2015, Sumdoh near the China border in Himachal Pradesh in 2016, the Gurez sector in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017, and Harsil in Uttarakhand in 2018. He was in Rajouri along the Line of Control in 2019, Longewala in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer in 2020, Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021, Kargil in 2022, Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh in 2023, Sir Creek in Gujarat’s Kutch in 2024, and aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off the Goa-Karwar coast in 2025.
Addressing the personnel, PM Modi said this was the first Diwali in which every district of the country was free from Naxalism and crores of Indians had overcome the fear of the insurgency. The prime minister said Bastar, once affected by menace of Naxalism, was witnessing a new era of development. However, owing to your sacrifice and dedication, the menace of Naxalism has now ended in this very region, and a new wave of development has begun,” he said. Crediting the achievements to the courage and sacrifices of the security personnel, PM Modi said he had come to Bastar to celebrate the occasion with them.
That is why I have come here today to celebrate Diwali with you,” he further added.
