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Amit Shah attacks opposition's vice presidential candidate over Salwa Judum case
Mumbai, August 25, 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly criticized India Aghadi's vice presidential candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy over the 2011 Salwa Judum verdict. Shah has accused Reddy of supporting Naxalism and claimed that if the Salwa Judum verdict had not been given, Naxalism would have been completely eradicated by 2020. This statement has created a stir in political circles, with former judges also condemning Shah's criticism.
What is the Salwa Judum case?
Salwa Judum was an armed rural movement that took place in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh from 2005 to 2011. The movement began as a local resistance against Maoist violence and their control over tribal communities. The then BJP government in Chhattisgarh, led by Raman Singh, supported the movement. The movement saw tribal youths being appointed as Special Police Officers (SPOs) and given weapons, also known as 'Koya Commandos' or 'Salwa Judum'. The movement was aimed at reducing the influence of Naxalites, but it led to widespread violence, human rights violations and displacement.
In 2011, a bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices B. Sudarshan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar, declared the Salwa Judum illegal and unconstitutional in the case of Nandini Sundar v. Government of Chhattisgarh. The court held that the practice of appointing tribal youths as Special Police Officers was unconstitutional and ordered their immediate disarmament. The court also said that the responsibility of maintaining law and order lies with the state government and cannot be entrusted to private armed groups. This verdict put an end to the Salwa Judum movement.
Amit Shah's allegations
Speaking at a conference organised by the Malayalam Mantrama group in Kochi, Amit Shah launched a direct attack on Sudarshan Reddy. He said, "Sudarshan Reddy is a person who helped Naxalism. He gave the verdict of Salva Judum. If this verdict had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020. He was inspired by the Left ideology for this verdict." Shah further claimed that Reddy's verdict deprived the tribals of their right to self-defence and this allowed Naxalism to survive for more than two decades.
Shah also questioned the choice of the India Aghadi candidate and claimed that Reddy's Left ideology led to his selection as the Vice-Presidential candidate. He also accused the Congress of increasing the chances of defeat in the elections in Kerala.
Sudarshan Reddy's response
Sudarshan Reddy, responding to Shah's allegations, said that the Salva Judum verdict was not his personal one, but that of the Supreme Court. He said, "If Shah had read the entire verdict, he might not have made such a statement. I do not want to directly argue with the Home Minister, but this verdict was of the Supreme Court." Reddy further said that the upcoming Vice Presidential election is not a fight between two individuals but between two different ideologies.
Former judges condemn
Shah's statement has been strongly condemned by 18 former judges, including former Supreme Court justices Kurian Joseph, Madan B. Lokur and J. Chelameswar. They said in a joint statement that Shah has given a "prejudicial misinterpretation" of the Supreme Court verdict, which can put pressure on judges and jeopardise judicial independence. They advised Shah to avoid name-calling and stressed the need for civility in political discussions.
Tribal community upset
The selection of Sudarshan Reddy as the India Aghadi's candidate for the vice-presidential post has sparked discontent among the tribal community in Chhattisgarh. Tribal organisations say that the end of the Salwa Judum movement has weakened the fight against Naxalism and has damaged the rights of the tribals. They believe that the Congress' decision is unfair to the tribal community in Bastar.
Vice-Presidential election and political environment
The voting for the vice-presidential election will be held on September 9. The election is being held after the resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The India Aghadi has announced B. Sudarshan Reddy as its candidate, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has put forward CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate. Shah defended Radhakrishnan's choice, saying that he was chosen not because of the electoral outlook of Tamil Nadu, but because of his experience and the practice of fielding candidates from South India.
Mumbai, August 25, 2025: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly criticized India Aghadi's vice presidential candidate and former Supreme Court judge B. Sudarshan Reddy over the 2011 Salwa Judum verdict. Shah has accused Reddy of supporting Naxalism and claimed that if the Salwa Judum verdict had not been given, Naxalism would have been completely eradicated by 2020. This statement has created a stir in political circles, with former judges also condemning Shah's criticism.
What is the Salwa Judum case?
Salwa Judum was an armed rural movement that took place in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh from 2005 to 2011. The movement began as a local resistance against Maoist violence and their control over tribal communities. The then BJP government in Chhattisgarh, led by Raman Singh, supported the movement. The movement saw tribal youths being appointed as Special Police Officers (SPOs) and given weapons, also known as 'Koya Commandos' or 'Salwa Judum'. The movement was aimed at reducing the influence of Naxalites, but it led to widespread violence, human rights violations and displacement.
In 2011, a bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices B. Sudarshan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar, declared the Salwa Judum illegal and unconstitutional in the case of Nandini Sundar v. Government of Chhattisgarh. The court held that the practice of appointing tribal youths as Special Police Officers was unconstitutional and ordered their immediate disarmament. The court also said that the responsibility of maintaining law and order lies with the state government and cannot be entrusted to private armed groups. This verdict put an end to the Salwa Judum movement.
Amit Shah's allegations
Speaking at a conference organised by the Malayalam Mantrama group in Kochi, Amit Shah launched a direct attack on Sudarshan Reddy. He said, "Sudarshan Reddy is a person who helped Naxalism. He gave the verdict of Salva Judum. If this verdict had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020. He was inspired by the Left ideology for this verdict." Shah further claimed that Reddy's verdict deprived the tribals of their right to self-defence and this allowed Naxalism to survive for more than two decades.
Shah also questioned the choice of the India Aghadi candidate and claimed that Reddy's Left ideology led to his selection as the Vice-Presidential candidate. He also accused the Congress of increasing the chances of defeat in the elections in Kerala.
Sudarshan Reddy's response
Sudarshan Reddy, responding to Shah's allegations, said that the Salva Judum verdict was not his personal one, but that of the Supreme Court. He said, "If Shah had read the entire verdict, he might not have made such a statement. I do not want to directly argue with the Home Minister, but this verdict was of the Supreme Court." Reddy further said that the upcoming Vice Presidential election is not a fight between two individuals but between two different ideologies.
Former judges condemn
Shah's statement has been strongly condemned by 18 former judges, including former Supreme Court justices Kurian Joseph, Madan B. Lokur and J. Chelameswar. They said in a joint statement that Shah has given a "prejudicial misinterpretation" of the Supreme Court verdict, which can put pressure on judges and jeopardise judicial independence. They advised Shah to avoid name-calling and stressed the need for civility in political discussions.
Tribal community upset
The selection of Sudarshan Reddy as the India Aghadi's candidate for the vice-presidential post has sparked discontent among the tribal community in Chhattisgarh. Tribal organisations say that the end of the Salwa Judum movement has weakened the fight against Naxalism and has damaged the rights of the tribals. They believe that the Congress' decision is unfair to the tribal community in Bastar.
Vice-Presidential election and political environment
The voting for the vice-presidential election will be held on September 9. The election is being held after the resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The India Aghadi has announced B. Sudarshan Reddy as its candidate, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has put forward CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate. Shah defended Radhakrishnan's choice, saying that he was chosen not because of the electoral outlook of Tamil Nadu, but because of his experience and the practice of fielding candidates from South India.
What is the Salwa Judum case?
Salwa Judum was an armed rural movement that took place in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh from 2005 to 2011. The movement began as a local resistance against Maoist violence and their control over tribal communities. The then BJP government in Chhattisgarh, led by Raman Singh, supported the movement. The movement saw tribal youths being appointed as Special Police Officers (SPOs) and given weapons, also known as 'Koya Commandos' or 'Salwa Judum'. The movement was aimed at reducing the influence of Naxalites, but it led to widespread violence, human rights violations and displacement.
In 2011, a bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices B. Sudarshan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar, declared the Salwa Judum illegal and unconstitutional in the case of Nandini Sundar v. Government of Chhattisgarh. The court held that the practice of appointing tribal youths as Special Police Officers was unconstitutional and ordered their immediate disarmament. The court also said that the responsibility of maintaining law and order lies with the state government and cannot be entrusted to private armed groups. This verdict put an end to the Salwa Judum movement.
Amit Shah's allegations
Speaking at a conference organised by the Malayalam Mantrama group in Kochi, Amit Shah launched a direct attack on Sudarshan Reddy. He said, "Sudarshan Reddy is a person who helped Naxalism. He gave the verdict of Salva Judum. If this verdict had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020. He was inspired by the Left ideology for this verdict." Shah further claimed that Reddy's verdict deprived the tribals of their right to self-defence and this allowed Naxalism to survive for more than two decades.
Shah also questioned the choice of the India Aghadi candidate and claimed that Reddy's Left ideology led to his selection as the Vice-Presidential candidate. He also accused the Congress of increasing the chances of defeat in the elections in Kerala.
Sudarshan Reddy's response
Sudarshan Reddy, responding to Shah's allegations, said that the Salva Judum verdict was not his personal one, but that of the Supreme Court. He said, "If Shah had read the entire verdict, he might not have made such a statement. I do not want to directly argue with the Home Minister, but this verdict was of the Supreme Court." Reddy further said that the upcoming Vice Presidential election is not a fight between two individuals but between two different ideologies.
Former judges condemn
Shah's statement has been strongly condemned by 18 former judges, including former Supreme Court justices Kurian Joseph, Madan B. Lokur and J. Chelameswar. They said in a joint statement that Shah has given a "prejudicial misinterpretation" of the Supreme Court verdict, which can put pressure on judges and jeopardise judicial independence. They advised Shah to avoid name-calling and stressed the need for civility in political discussions.
Tribal community upset
The selection of Sudarshan Reddy as the India Aghadi's candidate for the vice-presidential post has sparked discontent among the tribal community in Chhattisgarh. Tribal organisations say that the end of the Salwa Judum movement has weakened the fight against Naxalism and has damaged the rights of the tribals. They believe that the Congress' decision is unfair to the tribal community in Bastar.
Vice-Presidential election and political environment
The voting for the vice-presidential election will be held on September 9. The election is being held after the resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The India Aghadi has announced B. Sudarshan Reddy as its candidate, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has put forward CP Radhakrishnan as its candidate. Shah defended Radhakrishnan's choice, saying that he was chosen not because of the electoral outlook of Tamil Nadu, but because of his experience and the practice of fielding candidates from South India.
