Amit Shah Critiques INDIA Bloc's VP Candidate B. Sudershan Reddy

Amit Shah's Criticism of B. Sudershan Reddy

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a pointed critique of the INDIA bloc, specifically targeting its Vice Presidential nominee, B. Sudershan Reddy. Shah raised questions regarding the ideological foundation for Reddy's selection, highlighting past judicial decisions made by Reddy. He accused Reddy of dismissing the Salwa Judum movement and stripping tribal communities of their right to self-defense, which, according to Shah, contributed to the persistence of Naxalism in India for over twenty years.

In an interview, Shah remarked, "He rejected Salwa Judum and ended the right of self-defense for tribals. This decision allowed Naxalism to endure for more than two decades in our country... I suspect that leftist ideology was the basis for his selection."

He rejected Salwa Judum and ended the right of self-defence of tribals. Because of this, Naxalism lasted for more than two decades in this country… I believe leftist ideology must have been the criterion (for selecting Sudershan Reddy): Home Minister Amit Shah on INDIA… pic.twitter.com/B6SpPiP8Ct

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

In a recent interview with a prominent media outlet, Reddy, a retired Supreme Court Judge and the INDIA Bloc's VP candidate, expressed his desire to avoid engaging in the controversy surrounding the Salwa Judum ruling and Shah's comments. He responded to Shah's earlier claims that he had supported Naxalism and suggested that had he not ruled on the Salwa Judum case, Left-Wing Extremism could have been eliminated by 2020.

Reddy stated, "Since a Supreme Court ruling is not intended for public debate, I will refrain from participating in this discussion. Regardless of its merits, there are established standards for reviewing a judgment and commenting on it."

The Salwa Judum, which translates to "peace march" in the Gondi language, was a movement initiated in 2005 that mobilized local tribal youth for counterinsurgency efforts in Chhattisgarh. Its goal was to combat Naxalite activities in the area. Initially starting as a "Jan Jagran" march in Bijapur district, it evolved into a state-supported militia primarily composed of tribal youth, armed to confront Maoist insurgents in the Bastar region.

The movement was operational until 2011 when the Supreme Court deemed it illegal and unconstitutional. On July 5, 2011, the Supreme Court, responding to a petition from Nandini Sundar and others, declared Salwa Judum unlawful and ordered its disbandment. The court also mandated the Chhattisgarh government to retrieve all weapons and equipment from the group. The government's use of Salwa Judum in anti-Naxal operations faced significant backlash due to human rights violations and the deployment of inadequately trained tribal youth in perilous counter-insurgency roles.

Justice B. Sudershan Reddy was part of the Supreme Court bench that ruled against Salwa Judum, declaring it illegal and unconstitutional.