Modi calls for identifying, isolating ‘Dimagi Naxals’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 80th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, warned against 'Dimagi Naxals' (intellectual Naxals) who he said are entrenched in the system and pose an ideological threat. Modi urged citizens to identify and isolate such individuals, asserting that while armed Naxalism is nearing its end, its ideological supporters still seek to promote violence and unrest. He noted that people with Maoist mindsets had served on government committees and influenced policy for years.

The remark drew criticism from Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das, who questioned how the Prime Minister could loosely brand educated young people as 'Naxals' just because they question the government. In a post on X, Das called the comment 'sheer arrogance' and said 'Dimagi Naxal or whatever is not going to work'. He claimed an era of awakening and peaceful protest has begun, and accused those in power of trying to divide the youth.

The term 'Naxal' originates from the 1967 peasant uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal, and has since evolved from describing armed Maoist insurgents to being used in broader political contexts. Modi stressed that decades of Naxal violence have destroyed lives and killed over 3,500 security personnel, and called for continued vigilance even as armed insurgency declines.