Modi 'Dimagi Naxal' Remark Sparks Opposition Backlash

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's use of the term "dimagi Naxals" during his Independence Day address has sparked a political backlash, with opposition parties accusing him of attempting to stigmatize dissent and label critics. The controversy centers on remarks made during his speech from the Red Fort on August 15, 2026, the nation's 80th Independence Day.

In his address, Modi declared that the government had succeeded in curbing armed Naxalism, stating that Maoists who had taken up arms in the jungles had been eliminated. However, he warned that a new threat persisted in the form of "dimagi Naxals," or those with a Naxal mindset. Modi alleged that for years, individuals with Maoist thinking had been present in public life and even on government committees, influencing institutions. He called for these individuals to be identified and isolated, urging that the country's youth be brought into the mainstream to build a developed India.

The remarks drew immediate criticism from the Congress party. General Secretary Jairam Ramesh described the term as a "sure sign of desperation," linking it to the earlier use of the phrase "urban Naxals" by the ruling party. Ramesh pointed out that a...