Staff Reporter / New Delhi
Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent reference to “Dimagi Naxals” (ideological or intellectual Naxals), saying he is “proud” to be described by the term.
Chidambaram made the remark on Sunday in a brief post on social media platform X. “I am proud to be a ‘Dimagi Naxal’,” he wrote.
His comments came a day after Prime Minister Modi referred to “Dimagi Naxals” during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort. Modi said that while armed Naxalism had been brought to an end, a form of ideological Naxalism was still looking for opportunities to promote violence and disorder.
PM Modi Says ‘Dimagi Naxals’ Still Seeking Opportunities
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi said that armed Naxalism had largely been eliminated but warned that “ Dimagi Naxals” were still attempting to find ways to create violence and chaos.
He stressed the need to identify such elements and isolate them, while also emphasising the importance of bringing young people into the mainstream and involving them in the process of building a developed India.
The Prime Minister’s remarks have triggered a sharp political response from opposition leaders, particularly from the Congress.
Jairam Ramesh Also Targets Modi
Before Chidambaram’s response, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticised the Prime Minister’s remarks. Ramesh said that opponents of the government were earlier labelled “Urban Naxals” and were now being described as “Dimagi Naxals”. He claimed that the change in terminology reflected what he described as the Prime Minister’s frustration.
Ramesh also alleged that several demands raised by people branded as “Urban Naxals” or, more recently, “Dimagi Naxals”, were eventually acted upon by the government itself.
Supriya Shrinate Questions ‘Mann Ki Naxal’ Remark
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also criticised Prime Minister Modi in a post on X. She questioned whether young Indians were being labelled “Mann Ki Naxals” simply because they asked questions of the Prime Minister.
Commenting on Modi’s Independence Day speech, which lasted around 75 minutes, Shrinate described it as boring and said she saw in it a leader who appeared “defeated and tired” and disconnected from ground realities.
She also referred to Prime Minister Modi’s mention of former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a “great man”, highlighting the contrast with the political rhetoric used against the Congress and its leaders at other times.
The exchange reflects the intensifying political debate following the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address, with Congress leaders challenging his characterisation of ideological opponents and the government emphasising the need to counter what it describes as attempts to promote violence, disorder and extremism.