Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to Bastar in Chhattisgarh on Sunday, 8 November 2026, to celebrate Diwali with security personnel deployed in the region. The visit continues his long-standing annual tradition of marking the festival with members of the country’s security forces.
In a post on X earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister stated: “Heading to Bastar to celebrate Diwali with our brave security forces. This is an area where Naxalism once held sway and now, development is flourishing. I am going to salute our brave security personnel for their sacrifices, selfless service and unwavering devotion to the nation.” He also posted the message in Hindi: “दीपावली के पावन अवसर पर बस्तर जा रहा हूं। कल तक जहां नक्सलियों का कहर था वहां आज विकास की बहार है। वीर जवानों, उनके बलिदान, त्याग और तपस्या को नमन करने जा रहा हूं।”
The Press Information Bureau confirmed the visit, noting that the Prime Minister is heading to Bastar to celebrate Diwali with the brave security personnel and to pay tribute to their sacrifices and devotion to the nation. It highlighted that Bastar, once affected by Naxalism, is now witnessing the flourishing of development.
Bastar had long been regarded as a major centre of Left-Wing Extremism. On 31 March 2026, the government announced that the country was free from the menace of Maoism following the elimination of several leaders and cadres and the surrender of hundreds of others.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah later declared Bastar Naxal-free in May 2026. Central Armed Police Forces, particularly the CRPF (including its CoBRA units), along with the Chhattisgarh Police and District Reserve Guard, have been closely involved in anti-Maoist operations in the region.
The visit also comes days after the CRPF achieved a historic milestone of 12 consecutive months without an operational fatality—the first such period in 47 years. The last operational fatality was recorded on 30 October 2025. Prime Minister Modi had praised the achievement on X with the words “A ZERO that speaks volumes.”
CRPF Director General GP Singh attributed the record to modern equipment, improved training, strategic planning, and faster medical evacuation of injured personnel.
On Saturday, while conveying Diwali greetings, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that he would continue his practice of celebrating the festival with the country’s soldiers. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai welcomed the Prime Minister to Bastar, describing the visit as an honour to the courage and sacrifices of the security forces and a symbol of the region’s transition toward peace and development.
The precise location of the interaction within Bastar has not been officially disclosed, though the Prime Minister is expected to spend time with personnel deployed in the area. The visit is widely viewed as recognition of the security forces’ role in the long campaign against Naxalism and of Bastar’s ongoing shift from a zone of conflict to one focused on development.
