Varta
← Back to stories

From Rising Kashmir

Center Owned by Rising Kashmir

2026 Diwali special as India now Naxal-free: PM Modi

2026 Diwali special as India now Naxal-free: PM Modi

What's behind this

In the village of Halog near Shimla, hundreds gathered for the Pathar Mela, a centuries‑old Diwali ritual in which two groups throw stones at each other until a participant is injured, and the blood of the injured is offered as a ceremonial tilak to Goddess Bhadrakali, a practice said to have replaced human sacrifice. Congress leader Mr. Kharge described Deepavali as a “khushiyon ka Eid”, prompting the BJP to criticize him and challenge the Congress to refer to Eid as a “Diwali of joy”.

AI-generated overview from 2 outlets. It summarises their reporting and adds no reporting of its own.

What each side is saying

One outlet's own words from each side of the spectrum. Quoted, not summarised.

  • left · 7 outlets

    New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate Diwali on Sunday, November 8, along with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, which was freed from the clutches of Naxals after several decades. “Heading to Bastar to celebrate Diwali with our brave security forces,” Modi said in a post…

    — The Siasat Daily

  • center · 11 outlets

    NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate Diwali on Sunday along with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar, which was freed from the clutches of Naxals after several decades. "Heading to Bastar to celebrate Diwali with our brave security forces," Modi said in a post on 'X'. The…

    — DT Next

  • right · 8 outlets

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar on Sunday, November 8, describing the occasion as particularly significant as it marked the first Diwali after India's victory in its decades-long fight against Naxalism and Maoist extremism.

    — India TV

RSS excerpt

New Delhi, Nov 08: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday celebrated Diwali with security forces at the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and hailed the personnel for their role in securing the nation, describing the 2026 Diwali as truly special because it marks the first…

Coverage arrived over 74 hours — first from Hindustan Times, latest from Livemint.

✓ High Corroboration ⚡ Cross-Spectrum Consensus 32 news outlets reporting

Fact-Check & Bias Analysis

Confirmed by multiple independent newsrooms across the political spectrum.

Coverage Bias Distribution

Based on 32 reporting publishers
Left / Center-Left 8 (25%)
Center 16 (50%)
Center-Right / Right 8 (25%)

Compare all reporting outlets (32)

  2. 2 hours later
  3. The Shillong Times Center The Shillong Times

    ‘She was emotional about the country’s situation’: Cong’s Udit Raj on Sonia Gandhi’s response to Babri Masjid demolition

    New Delhi, Nov 8: In the face of mounting criticism from the ruling alliance over senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s reported response to the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992, party leader Udit Raj said that she was emotional about the country’s situation at that time. The Bharatiya Janata…

    Compare on Varta → Read at The Shillong Times ↗
  4. 39 minutes later
  6. 27 minutes later
  8. 12 hours later
  9. Rising Kashmir Center Rising Kashmir Current article

    2026 Diwali special as India now Naxal-free: PM Modi

    New Delhi, Nov 08: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday celebrated Diwali with security forces at the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, and hailed the personnel for their role in securing the nation, describing the 2026 Diwali as truly special because it marks the first…

    Read at Rising Kashmir ↗
  10. 3 hours later
  11. Greater Kashmir Center GK Communications Pvt. Ltd.

    PM celebrates Diwali in Bastar

    New Delhi, Nov 8: Prime Minister NarendraModi on Sunday said armed Naxalism had been eliminated from the country, but warned that the threat had not completely disappeared, alleging that “dimagiNaxals” had infiltrated several organisations and political parties and were continuing to incite people…

    Compare on Varta → Read at Greater Kashmir ↗
  12. 3 hours later
  14. 2 hours later
  16. 31 minutes later
  18. 48 minutes later
  20. 1 hour later
  22. 8 minutes later
  23. Orissa Post Center Eastern Media Ltd (Sambad Group)

    BJP slams Kharge for calling Diwali ‘Eid of joy’, dares Congress to call Eid ‘Diwali of joy’

    New Delhi: BJP Monday accused the Congress of indulging in “appeasement politics” and hurting the sentiments of Hindus over party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s description of Diwali as an “Eid of happiness”. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia…

    Compare on Varta → Read at Orissa Post ↗
  24. 30 minutes later
  26. 2 minutes later
  28. 6 minutes later
  30. 9 minutes later
  32. 33 minutes later
  34. 5 minutes later
  35. ABP Live Center-Right ABP Group

    Rahul Gandhi Renews Challenge To PM Modi Over ‘Dimagi Naxals’ Remark, Says ‘After Debate, He Won’t Have The Guts…’

    Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to an open debate over allegations of being anti-national and controlled by foreign forces, saying his challenge still stands. In a post on X, Gandhi addressed…

    Compare on Varta → Read at ABP Live ↗
  36. 17 minutes later
  37. Deccan Herald Center-Left The Printers (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd.

    'Any time, any place': Rahul Gandhi reiterates debate dare after PM Modi's 'Dimagi Naxal' jibe on Diwali

    New Delhi: As the Prime Minister resumed the 'dimagi naxal' pitch , Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate, saying they could contest over who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Sharing a…

    Compare on Varta → Read at Deccan Herald ↗
  38. 3 minutes later
  40. 4 minutes later
  42. 15 minutes later
  43. The Morung Express Center

    Rahul Gandhi challenges PM Modi again for debate on ‘Dimagi Naxals’, anti-national charges

    New Delhi, November 9 (IANS): Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a public debate regarding allegations of being ‘Dimagi Naxals’ and anti-nationals controlled by foreign entities.In a…

    Compare on Varta → Read at The Morung Express ↗
  44. 26 minutes later
  46. 43 minutes later
  48. 50 minutes later
  50. 3 minutes later
  51. Organiser Right Bharatiya Prakashan (RSS)

    Rahul Gandhi drags CRPF into political war against PM Modi, questions jawans over Naxal remarks

    Rahul Gandhi has once again dragged India’s security forces into his political confrontation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this time claiming that CRPF personnel did not believe the PM’s remarks on Naxalism. Coming against the backdrop of his earlier controversial remarks on the Army and China…

    Compare on Varta → Read at Organiser ↗
  52. 6 minutes later
  54. 14 minutes later
  55. The New Indian Express Center Express Publications (Madurai) Ltd.

    'Modi, Shah have lost mental balance': Baghel hits back at PM's 'mental Naxals' remark

    RAIPUR: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched a political offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah a day after the PM’s statements on Naxalism during the latter’s visit to Bastar. Speaking to media persons in Janjgiri village of Durg…

    Compare on Varta → Read at The New Indian Express ↗
  56. 40 minutes later
  57. Deccan Chronicle Center Deccan Chronicle Holdings

    Maoists Eliminated, But ‘Dimagi’ Naxals Infiltrate Several Political Parties, Organizations: PM Modi

    Terming elimination of Maoism a victory for his government’s policies and political will, he said that the decisions taken by his government had disabled the funding networks of the Maoists and separatists, while giving a freehand to the security forces at the ground to deal with the armed…

    Compare on Varta → Read at Deccan Chronicle ↗
  58. 15 minutes later
  60. 25 minutes later
  62. 1 hour later
  63. Livemint Center-Right HT Media Ltd.

    India’s wildest Diwali? Why two groups pelt stones at each other a day after festival in Himachal: Know about tradition

    Hundreds gathered in Halog village near Shimla for Pathar Mela, a centuries-old Diwali ritual in which two groups throw stones until someone is injured. The participant’s blood is offered as a ceremonial tilak to Goddess Bhadrakali, a practice believed to have replaced human sacrifice.

    Compare on Varta → Read at Livemint ↗

Read more news

See all latest stories →