‘Dimagi Naxal’ Remark Sparks BJP-Oppn War of Words

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to “dimagi Naxals” in his Independence Day address triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Opposition on Sunday, with Union minister Kiren Rijiju clarifying that the Prime Minister was not referring to Opposition leaders but to those who support Maoists and separatists and reject the Constitution.

Addressing the nation on the 80th Independence Day on Saturday, Modi warned that while “armed Naxals may have gone”, “dimagi (intellectual) Naxals” continued to operate within the system and influence policies. He called for identifying and isolating them.

Opposition leaders criticised the remarks, alleging that they were aimed at stigmatising dissent and targeting those who questioned the government.

Seeking to clarify the Prime Minister’s remarks, parliamentary affairs minister Rijiju said on X that Modi “didn't say Opposition leaders” were “dimagi Naxals”.

Rijiju said the description applied to those who supported Maoists and rejected the Constitution, backed separatists and Article 370, and those who wanted to “cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India”.

His last comment was an apparent reference to jailed activist Sharjeel Imam, who faces charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots case.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera took a swipe at Rijiju for numbering the three points as “1, 2 and 4”. “Brother Kiren Rijiju, get your counting right first, then we'll answer. After 1 and 2 comes 3, not 4,” he said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh joined in, commenting, “Entire Political Science's kamaal.”

Earlier, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram had posted: “I am proud to be a dimagi Naxal”, drawing sharp reactions from BJP leaders.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad termed Chidambaram’s remark “utterly irresponsible”. He said Modi's reference was to people who, while sitting in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Patna and Kolkata, allegedly nurtured Maoist ideology and provided ideological and other support to the movement.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also attacked Chidambaram, alleging that Naxalism had prospered when he was home minister during the UPA government.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posted an old video of Chidambaram discussing India's nuclear weapons policy and asked whether the remarks qualified him as a “dimagi Naxal”.

BJP national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh and the party's IT department head Amit Malviya also targeted Chidambaram over his remarks as the political row over the Prime Minister's Independence Day comments intensified.