Hundreds of surrendered Maoists watch Chhattisgarh assembly proceedings

RAIPUR: In a first for Chhattisgarh’s anti-Naxal campaign, around 120 surrendered Maoists — including former Central Committee member Satish alias Rupesh — sat inside the state Assembly on Friday to watch proceedings, in what the government described as a symbolic pivot from insurgency to integration.The group, comprising 66 men and 54 women, observed the House from the visitors’ gallery during the budget session, marking the first time rehabilitated former Maoists have been formally brought into the Assembly to witness democratic functioning firsthand.Speaking to reporters, former CC member Rupesh said, "I attended the House proceedings today but cannot comment on it. Though I am part of the constitution, I am not going to necessarily contest the election."Another cadre said that most of the surrendered Maoists want to spend life in peace. Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai greeted the group with a traditional “Jai Johar” and described the visit as a sign of changing ground realities. “Those who have given up violence and chosen the path of the Constitution are welcome. Our priority is to ensure they live with dignity and earn a respectable livelihood,” he said.Deputy CM and home minister Vijay Sharma, who has been driving the reintegration outreach, called it a “historic moment”.

“Those who once rejected the Constitution are today sitting inside the temple of democracy and watching its processes. Youth who left the path of the gun and returned to the republic deserve respect,” he said.The visit was part of a broader three-day exposure tour organised under the state’s surrender and rehabilitation policy, largely focused on cadres from Bastar and other Left Wing Extremism-affected districts.On Thursday evening, Sharma hosted the surrendered cadres at his residence, where they were welcomed with a red-carpet reception and dinner. The group was also taken to Nandan Van Jungle Safari as part of confidence-building efforts aimed at easing their transition into mainstream life. Officials said the minister interacted individually with several former cadres to assess their rehabilitation status and current needs.During interactions, several rehabilitated cadres shared their experiences, saying witnessing the Assembly proceedings was inspiring and strengthened their belief in democratic processes. Many said they now wished to work within the constitutional framework and encourage others still underground to return to the mainstream.Officials said over 2,500 Maoists have surrendered in recent years, and the state is intensifying both security operations and reintegration programmes as part of the broader push to make Chhattisgarh Maoist-free by March 2026.The Assembly visit, officials said, was intended to send a powerful message: that the doors of democracy remain open for those willing to abandon violence.