Raipur, June 23 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that Naxalism has been a major catastrophe for poor tribal regions, leading to the deaths of nearly 40,000 people over the last 35 years, and leaving many more disabled.

While addressing security personnel in Nawa Raipur, Amit Shah said, "Naxalism has been a major catastrophe for poor tribal regions, leading to the deaths of nearly 40,000 people over the last 35 years, while many more have been left disabled."

He added, "Naxal violence deprived the poor tribal population of basic necessities such as food, electricity, education, housing, toilets, and clean drinking water -- let alone any possibility of industrial development. Entire regions were forced to live in conditions...