Ekta Nagar (Gujarat), Oct 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India had made significant progress in eliminating Left-wing extremism, claiming that no district remained affected by Naxalism by March this year. However, he warned that what he termed “intellectual Naxalism” continued to pose a threat and urged citizens to remain vigilant.
Addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas gathering at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, Modi said the country had broken the backbone of armed Naxalism but needed to guard against ideological forces that, according to him, sought to undermine national unity.
“We have ended Naxalism in remote areas. But the threat of intellectual Naxalism has not yet passed from the country. The nation must always remain alert to these intellectual Naxalites,” he said.
The Prime Minister recalled his address at the same venue a year ago, when he had pledged that the country would not rest until it was free from Naxalism and Maoist violence. He said the resolve had now been fulfilled.
Modi said 126 districts were affected by Left-wing extremism in 2015, while no district remained affected by Naxalism by March 2026. He said regions that had endured decades of violence were now being connected with the development mainstream through roads, mobile networks, schools and healthcare facilities.
He also paid tribute to security personnel who lost their lives in operations against Naxalism and welcomed families from affected regions to the National Unity Day celebrations.
Appeal to Protect National Unity
In the second part of his address, Modi placed his warning against intellectual Naxalism within a broader appeal to safeguard national unity. He alleged that certain forces were attempting to divide Indians, spread rumours and damage the country’s image through social media.
The Prime Minister urged citizens to identify and collectively counter such activities, saying India could not afford to become divided at a time of global instability and external challenges.
He also called for progress towards securing the country’s borders, preventing infiltration and addressing what he described as demographic changes. Modi reiterated the need to move towards a secular civil code.
The Prime Minister said the national resolve to build a developed India by 2047 must continue despite obstacles and challenges.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is observed every year on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, who played a central role in the integration of princely states after Independence.
The celebrations at Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity, highlighted the government’s emphasis on national integration and its stated efforts to eliminate Left-wing extremism while extending development to previously affected regions.
