"Proud to be Dimagi Naxal": P Chidambaram hits back at PM Modi's Red Fort remark

New Delhi, August 16, 2026 (ANI): Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "Maoist mentality" remarks, saying "proud to be dimagi naxal!"

In a post on X, Chidambaram took a jibe at the Prime Minister a day after his 80th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, where he urged people and authorities to "identify and isolate" those with a "dimagi naxal" (ideological Naxal) mindset.
"I am proud to be a dimagi naxal !," he wrote on X.

On Saturday, PM Modi said government action since 2014 has largely ended the jungle insurgency that claimed over 3,500 security personnel. But he alleged people with a "Maoist mentality" earlier held positions in government committees and influenced policy.

Linking the call to the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Prime Minister said the focus must be on keeping youth aligned with nation-building and warned that an ideological Naxal mindset still exists in institutions despite armed Maoist violence "breathing its last".

On Saturday, Congress slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his remarks, dismissing his warnings against "dimagi naxals" as hollow political rhetoric while fiercely defending its historical legacy regarding India's national song, Vande Mataram.

Reacting to PM Modi's call to identify and isolate "dimagi naxals" who threaten the country's progress, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the term carries no real substance, drawing a parallel to previous debates surrounding the phrase "urban naxal."

Ramesh pointed out that when the government previously labelled political opponents as "urban naxals," Union Home Minister Amit Shah had to clarify in Parliament that no such official legal definition exists.

"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 said.

Ramesh argued that the central government routinely vilifies its critics before eventually adopting the very policies they advocate.

"The reality is that he eventually accepts the issues and demands raised by the very people he labels as 'Urban Naxals.' He had dismissed the idea of a caste census as 'Urban Naxal' thinking, yet a year ago, he announced a caste-based census. First, you make derogatory remarks--calling them 'Urban Naxals' or 'Mental Naxals'--but later, you accept the very demands your political opponents were making... Even after 12 years, there was nothing new in his political speech," the Congress leader said. (ANI)

"Armed Naxalism eliminated, dimaagi Naxals remain": Chhattisgarh CM echoes PM Modi's I-Day speech

Raipur (Chhattisgarh), August 16, 2026 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly stated that armed Naxalism has been eliminated, though "dimaagi Naxals" (ideological Naxals) remain.

The Chief Minister inaugurated an exhibition organised by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department at Town Hall in Raipur on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. The exhibition showcases profiles and photographs of freedom fighters from Chhattisgarh.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Sai extended Independence Day greetings to the people of the state and said the day was celebrated with great enthusiasm across Chhattisgarh.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Sai said, "Today, in his speech from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi is absolutely right; in the address he delivered to the nation from the Red Fort today on the occasion of Independence Day, he made significant mention of Chhattisgarh. He noted that armed Naxalism has been eliminated, though 'dimaagi Naxals' remain."

Extending greetings, he said, "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the people of Chhattisgarh on the 80th Independence Day. Today, we have celebrated Independence Day with great fervour across the entire state, including here in Raipur."

He also highlighted, "The Public Relations Department has organised an exhibition at the Town Hall, showcasing the profiles and photographs of Chhattisgarh's freedom fighters."

In his Independence Day address, PM Modi said, "We have been able to curb and free the country from 'hathariya naxal' (armed naxal). Even if these naxals are gone, the 'dimagi Naxal', 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."

Earlier, the Tricolour was hoisted for the first time on Independence Day in Boter village, deep inside the Abujhmad region of Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, which was once part of the Red Corridor.
The flag was hoisted at the government primary school in Boter and at the camp of the 29th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Villagers said national festivals were not celebrated earlier in the area due to fear and restrictions imposed by Naxalites.

Rajesh Kumar Pandey, Station House Officer of Orchha, said the Independence Day programme was organised for the first time in the Boter village.

SHO Pandey said, "For the first time, flag hoisting has been done here. Villagers were also offered snacks. With the Police camp opening here, villagers are excited and met us warmly. Once the area became Naxal-free, it has been developing rapidly. We are proud to be here to witness the flag hoisting for the first time. Since the area was Naxal-affected, people used to be scared. Now, they feel liberated."

This year's Independence Day celebrations saw children holding the Tricolour and raising patriotic slogans alongside ITBP personnel, marking a significant change for villagers who said they had earlier lived under restrictions imposed by Naxals. (ANI)