Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Sibal Accuses PM Modi of 'BJP First, Nation Next' Mindset
Every year on India's birthday, the Prime Minister gives a big speech from a famous fort called the Red Fort.
This year, a leader named Kapil Sibal did not like what the Prime Minister said.
Mr. Sibal said the Prime Minister was just 'selling dreams' and cared more about his own party than about the country.
The Prime Minister talked about people he called 'intellectual Naxals', who are people who disagree with him.
Mr. Sibal said it is okay to disagree, and that calling people bad names is not fair.
The Prime Minister asked other parties to help give women more seats in the government.
Mr. Sibal said a law to give women seats already exists and the government just needs to use it.
Mr. Sibal also said India buys much more from China than it sells, and that a new port would mean cutting many trees.
The Prime Minister promised free online classes for big exams and computer training for young people.
Both leaders say they want a better India, but they do not agree about how to build it.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal hit out at PM Narendra Modi's Independence Day address, alleging he was 'selling dreams again' and had a 'BJP First, Nation Next' mindset for the last 12 years.
Sibal criticised Modi's 'dimagi Naxal' (intellectual Naxalite) reference, saying it labelled academics, students and political dissenters as 'intellectual anarchists' and should not have been made 'when the world is watching'.
Sibal said the Women's Reservation Bill was already passed and only needed implementation, alleging the BJP wanted a two-thirds majority to carry out delimitation of constituencies as done in Assam.
Sibal claimed the government manipulated and bought over parliamentarians, breaking parties in Punjab, the Northeast, the Shiv Sena and the NCP not for national interest but for 'pure self-interest'.
In his 13th consecutive Independence Day address on the country's 80th Independence Day, Modi urged parties to back 33 per cent women's reservation and announced free online coaching for competitive exams and AI training for one crore youth.
- Who
- Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister Kapil Sibal, who criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address.
- What
- Sibal accused Modi of having a 'BJP First, Nation Next' mindset for the last 12 years and of 'selling dreams again', criticising the 'dimagi Naxal' remark and the government's handling of the Women's Reservation Bill.
- When
- Saturday, August 15, on the country's 80th Independence Day.
- Where
- New Delhi; Modi spoke from the ramparts of the Red Fort (Lal Qila), and Sibal responded at a press conference.
- Why
- Sibal said the speech signalled that dissenters are 'intellectual anarchists' and ignored implementation of women's reservation, India's $80 billion trade deficit with China, and environmental damage from projects like the Nicobar port.
Opposition criticism (Kapil Sibal)
Government position (PM Modi's address)
'Dimagi Naxal' remark
Opposition criticism (Kapil Sibal)
Sibal said the remark brands academics, students and political dissenters as 'intellectual anarchists' trying to destroy India from within, and that the real problem is people of the BJP's ideology who are 'by nature autocratic' — citing institutions such as the ED, CBI, governors, vice-chancellors and the Election Commission, and groups like the Bajrang Dal and VHP.
Government position (PM Modi's address)
Modi said armed Naxalism had been eliminated but 'dimagi Naxals' still lurked, warning of people with a Naxal mindset who oppose the nation's interests.
Women's Reservation Bill
Opposition criticism (Kapil Sibal)
Sibal said the bill has already been passed and only needs implementation, and alleged the BJP's real interest is a two-thirds majority to carry out delimitation of constituencies and change the very basis of the Constitution.
Government position (PM Modi's address)
Modi urged political parties to rise above differences to help secure 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, blaming the opposition for not allowing the bill to pass.
Nation's development record
Opposition criticism (Kapil Sibal)
Sibal alleged the government broke parties in Punjab, the Northeast, the Shiv Sena and the NCP for 'pure self-interest', said India is a 'global buyer' with a negative $80 billion trade balance with China, and claimed people were sleeping on pavements at AIIMS while projects such as the Nicobar port would cut around 7.1 lakh trees.
Government position (PM Modi's address)
Modi laid out his Viksit Bharat 2047 vision with seven streams ('saptadharas') of development, casting India as a rising global supplier and calling on youth to take the lead in building a developed India.
- Speaker of the address
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi — 13th consecutive Independence Day address
- Critic
- Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, former Union minister and senior advocate
- Date and occasion
- Saturday, August 15 — 80th Independence Day
- Venue
- Ramparts of the Red Fort (Lal Qila), New Delhi
- Central allegation
- 'BJP First, Nation Next' mindset for the last 12 years; 'selling dreams again'
- Women's Reservation Bill
- Sibal says bill already passed; needs one-third reservation in Lok Sabha at present strength
- Trade balance with China
- Negative by $80 billion, per Sibal
- Youth announcements
- Free online coaching for competitive exams; AI training for one crore youth