Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi declared the state completely Naxal-free during National Unity Day celebrations at the OSAP 7th Battalion Parade Ground in Bhubaneswar on October 31, saying sustained police operations and government measures had eliminated the Naxalite and Maoist threat.
Majhi made the announcement while addressing an event marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He credited the Odisha Police for its dedication, efficiency and continued operations, conducted under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the leadership of the Union Home Minister.
According to the Chief Minister, areas where residents had previously been afraid to travel even during daylight no longer faced the same atmosphere of fear. He presented the declaration as a major internal-security milestone for the state, while linking it to broader economic and industrial development.
Majhi said a new phase of industrialisation had unfolded in Odisha over the past two years, with investors from India and abroad showing interest in the state. He argued that peace, security and a strong law-and-order system were necessary conditions for industrial growth, and said the Odisha Police had maintained those conditions.
The declaration places the state government’s security assessment at the centre of the announcement. The material supplied for the event does not provide district-wise figures, the number of operations, details of recent incidents, or the administrative criteria used to define Odisha as completely Naxal-free. It also does not specify whether any new security or development measures will follow the declaration.
The Chief Minister used the National Unity Day programme to connect the announcement with Patel’s role in integrating more than 560 princely states into India. He said the occasion represented more than a ceremonial commemoration and reflected the country’s commitment to national integrity and collective resolve.
Majhi also referred to Odisha leaders such as Harekrushna Mahatab and urged citizens to rise above caste, religion, gender and language divisions. He called for cooperation towards what he described as a prosperous and developed Odisha.
The Bhubaneswar event was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Hemant Sharma, Director of Intelligence R.P. Koche, senior police officers, police personnel and other dignitaries. Majhi also virtually attended the central National Unity Day Parade at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present.
