( MENAFN - IANS) Kevadia, Oct 31 (IANS) On the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasised the need to identify and counteract "urban Naxalism" -- a new threat, he warned, that seeks to divide India "under the guise of defending democracy and the Constitution." Addressing the 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' parade in Kevadia, Gujarat, he underscored the importance of unity and the need to dismantle efforts aimed at fracturing the nation. "Naxalism, a terrifying disease, has been uprooted and thrown away," PM Modi said, recalling a time when the "red corridor" spanned from Nepal's Pashupatinath to Tirupati in India.
He reflected on how tribal communities, including figures like Birsa Munda, fought valiantly for India's freedom despite limited resources. In this tribal society, the seeds of Naxalism were sown as part of a calculated conspiracy; it became a challenge for India's unity," PM Modi said. He expressed satisfaction with India's success against traditional Naxalism, attributing the reduction to ten years of "relentless efforts.
" However, he warned of a new threat -- "urban Naxalism." "These individuals, while invoking the Constitution and democracy, are working to divide Indians. We must identify this alliance of urban Naxalites," he added.
"As the Naxalism that once thrived in the forests and led youths to pick up guns gradually faded, a new model of urban Naxalism has emerged," PM Modi said, calling for the country to "re.