Mahua Moitra claims Bengal curbed Naxalism through welfare, questions BJP narrative

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has claimed that West Bengal successfully tackled Naxalism through welfare-driven policies rather than military force, while sharply criticising the Centre’s approach to the issue. Speaking during a discussion on extremism, she argued that socio-economic interventions played a key role in reducing insurgency in the state.

Moitra said that Naxalism, which originated in 1969 from Naxalbari near Siliguri, was never merely a law-and-order problem but a deeper socio-economic issue. She emphasised that addressing poverty, land rights, and employment opportunities helped weaken the roots of left-wing extremism in West Bengal.

Taking aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party, she questioned its claims of resolving the problem and highlighted the role of welfare schemes such as MGNREGA and the Forest Rights Act in mitigating unrest. She also raised concerns over recent trends, alleging that between 2019 and 2025, incidents of killings increased while arrests declined, and a significant portion of allocated security funds remained unspent.

In a pointed remark, Moitra criticised the lack of broader policy discussions, stating that issues like the energy crisis were being overlooked while debates on Naxalism were revived. She maintained that sustained welfare measures and rehabilitation efforts, rather than force-based strategies, were instrumental in making West Bengal free from Naxalism.