India, Oct. 4 -- Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday ruled out talks with Maoists and said they will have to lay down weapons by accepting the government's "lucrative surrender and rehabilitation policy."

Addressing the 'Bastar Dussehra Lokotsav' and 'Swadeshi Mela' in Jagdalpur, the headquarters of Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, Shah asserted that March 31, 2026, has been set as the deadline to make India Naxal-free.

"I want to tell all my tribal brothers and sisters to persuade the youth of their villages to lay down their arms. They should shun violence, join the mainstream, and become part of the development of Bastar," he said.

"Some people have called for talks (with Naxals). Let me make it clear again that both the Chhatt...