In a powerful statement on Monday, September 29, 2025, Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary D. Raja insisted that the government must engage in dialogue with Maoists. He sharply criticized Home Minister Amit Shah for what he called “irresponsible” comments directed at Left parties and accused the administration of orchestrating the eviction of tribal communities from forest lands to benefit industrialist Gautam Adani.
During a seminar on ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’ held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, Mr. Shah had announced India’s rejection of a Maoist ceasefire offer. He further alleged that Left parties were providing ideological support to Left-Wing Extremism and dismissed arguments that Maoist violence stemmed from a lack of development.
Responding to this, Mr. Raja questioned, “Maoists want dialogue with the government. They have proposed a ceasefire. Why does the Indian government not accept it?”
The CPI General Secretary made these remarks at a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Delhi, following his re-election. He used the platform to brief the media on resolutions passed during the 25th party Congress in Chandigarh.
Mr. Raja also lambasted the government for its lack of transparency, specifically regarding ‘Operation Kagar’ in Chhattisgarh. He demanded to know how many of those killed were genuinely “Maoists” and how many were “innocent tribal people.”
“This government is attempting to evict tribal people from their forests and lands, aiming to hand these over to entities like Adani. Seaports and airports have already been given to Adani; now forests are next. What will remain? What kind of India are we becoming? Is this still a democratic republic?” he questioned emphatically.
Earlier, Mr. Shah had publicly stated that India would be free of Left-Wing Extremism by March 2026, describing it as a “final assault.”
Mr. Raja also challenged the government’s vision of a ‘Naxal Mukt Bharat’, asking, “What happened to Congress Mukt Bharat? Tomorrow they will say Communist Mukt Bharat. We have a Constitution, and they should understand its clarity: India is a secular democratic republic.”
He dismissed Mr. Shah’s accusation that Left parties provide ideological backing to Maoists as irresponsible. “I don’t know what he means by that; let him explain,” Raja stated, highlighting that this narrative is an attempt to redefine India.
“Urban Naxalites or rural Naxalites…they are challenging the policies of the government of the day. But what about Right Wing Extremists? They want to redefine Indian nationhood. They want to rewrite Indian history. Which is dangerous?” he asserted.
Since 2024, security forces in Chhattisgarh have reported killing over 400 alleged Maoists.