Armed Naxals gone, now identify & isolate 'dimagi Naxals': PM Modi on Independence Day

New Delhi: The youth took centre stage in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address on Saturday as he unveiled a host of initiatives, including free online coaching and AI skilling, but also warned against "dimagi Naxals...looking for ways of violence and anarchy", who, he said, must be "identified" and "isolated".The PM's 13th consecutive speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, over 75 minutes long, was marked by repeated invocations of the youth, who were the face of the most consequential protest his govt has faced since 2014, leading to education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and a slew of legislative and executive measures to reform the examination system.The PM emphasised the threat "dimagi Naxals" pose even as his govt has largely eliminated "hathiyari Naxals" (armed Naxals). Modi has often used the term "urban Naxals" to describe sympathisers of the Maoist movement. His coinage of "dimagi Naxals" appears to be a nod to the belief in BJP circles that hardcore Left groups, especially AISA, the student wing of CPI(ML), played a key role in mobilising and sustaining support for the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest. "These dimagi Naxals are looking for ways of violence and anarchy. They are resorting to various tactics to drag society to the wrong path. We must identify these dimagi Naxals, isolate them, and steer the nation's youth toward the mainstream effort of transforming India into a developed nation," he said.The challenge of 'dimagi Naxals should not be underestimated' as they used to have presence in "corridors of power", even as advisers in govt committees, he emphasised. BJP has accused Congress of keeping people with professed Naxal sympathies in committees that shaped policies during UPA's tenure in 2004-2014. Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.