Proud to be a 'dimaagi Naxal', says Chidambaram; Kiren Rijiju retorts

P Chidambaram said he was proud to be a 'dimaagi Naxal' after Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the term in his Independence Day speech. Kiren Rijiju replied that Modi was not targeting opposition leaders and set out three categories he said the remark referred to.

In Short

• Chidambaram embraced Modi's label in an X post after Red Fort speech
• Rijiju said the Prime Minister never branded opposition leaders collectively
• He named Maoist backers, separatist supporters and Article 370 defenders

A political war of words has erupted over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'dimaagi Naxal' remark, after senior Congress leader P Chidambaram claimed the epithet with pride, prompting a sharp reaction from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Chidambaram took a swipe at the Prime Minister in a post on X on Sunday, responding to Modi's warning about people with a Maoist mindset who, according to him, have entrenched themselves within the system and continue to pose a threat by influencing policies.

"I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!" Chidambaram wrote.

His remark drew a sharp response from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who said PM Modi had not called opposition leaders 'dimaagi Naxals' but was referring to a specific set of people.

"Very unfortunate & highly damaging statement by respected former Home Minister of India," Rijiju wrote on X.

"PM @narendramodi ji didn't say opposition leaders are Dimagi Naxals. Only following are Dimagi Naxals," he added.

Rijiju then listed three categories that he said Modi was referring to:

Those who "support Maoists and reject Indian Constitution"

Those who "stand with separatists and support Article 370"

Those who "want to cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India"

The exchange comes a day after Modi used the term during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

WHAT PM MODI SAID ABOUT 'DIMAAGI NAXALS'

Speaking on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said India had succeeded in tackling armed Naxalism in the forests but warned that its ideological supporters were seeking opportunities to promote violence and anarchy.

He urged citizens to "identify and isolate" what he described as 'dimaagi Naxals'.

"For years, people with a Maoist mindset had established themselves in the corridors of power. They had served as advisers on government committees and influenced public policy," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said the country should not underestimate the challenge and needed to remain vigilant.

He also spoke about the toll of decades of Naxalism and Maoist violence, saying it had destroyed the lives and aspirations of millions of young people.

Modi said more than 3,500 police and security personnel had been killed in the conflict, a number he described as much higher than the number of soldiers killed during wars.

"Naxalism held a very large part of India and a huge population in its grip, at gunpoint," he said.

'ENDING NAXALISM A PRIORITY SINCE 2014'

Modi said his government, which came to power in 2014, had made ending Naxalism a priority.

"Decades-old challenges must be brought to an end. Naxalism and Maoism have destroyed the future of millions of young people. They have taken away the sons of countless mothers, ruined families, and shattered the dreams of parents," he said.

Chidambaram's response and Rijiju's counter have now brought the Prime Minister's 'dimagi naxal' remark into a fresh political confrontation, with the Congress leader adopting the label and the Union minister arguing that Modi's remarks were not directed at opposition leaders as a group.

- Ends