'Didn't call opposition leaders dimagi naxals': Rijiju on PM Modi's I-Day remarks

'Didn't call opposition leaders dimagi naxals': Rijiju on PM Modi's I-Day remarks TOI News Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Aug 16, 2026, 16:03 IST Comments Share AA Text Size Small Medium Large Rijiju said that Prime Minister's remarks were not meant for opposition leaders. NEW DELHI: Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on "dimagi naxals" were not meant for the opposition leaders.Amid opposition's criticism over PM's remarks during his Independence Day speech, Rijiju said that the "dimagi naxals" referred only to those who supported Maoists and rejected Constitution. "PM Narendra Modi ji didn't say opposition leaders as dimagi naxals," Rijiju said in a social media post on X. "Only following are dimagi naxals: 1. Who support Maoists and reject Indian Constitution. 2. Who stand with separatists & support Article 370. 3. Who want to cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India," he added.In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said that while Naxals who took up arms in the jungle have been eliminated, there are also "dimagi naxals", who are in various parts of the country and need to be "identified and isolated.""For years, people with Maoist thinking were there in public life, even in government committees this thinking had affected various institutions and initiatives. My dear countrymen, we have been able to curb and free the country from 'hathariya naxal' (armed naxal)," The Prime Minister said."Even if these naxals are gone, but the 'dimagi naxal' (people with naxal thinking), are looking for an opportunity, looking to see ways of violence, and trying to drag the country to a wrong path. We need to identify these dimagi naxal, isolate them, and bring the youth together for a developed country," he added.Soon after his speech, Congress dismissed PM Modi's warnings against "dimagi naxals" as hollow political rhetoric.Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the term carries no real substance, drawing a parallel to previous debates surrounding the phrase "urban naxal". "Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents 'urban naxals'; at that time, the question arose in Parliament as to what the definition of 'Urban Naxal' was. The home minister replied that there is no such thing as an 'urban naxal,' nor is there any definition for it. Today, the Prime Minister is using the term 'mental naxal' (ideological Naxal) for his political opponents from the Red Fort," Jairam Ramesh alleged.Raelier in the day, former Union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on also targeted PM Modi over his “dimagi naxal” remarks, saying he was “proud” to be described by the term.“I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!” Chidambaram said in a post on X. The TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most." [Image text:] MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS