Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Kapil Sibal Calls Himself ‘Dimagi Naxal,’ Criticizes Horse Trading
Kapil Sibal gave a speech about horse trading and democracy in Kochi.
He jokingly called himself a “Dimagi Naxal.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had used that phrase for people he said were influencing the system in harmful ways.
Modi had also asked citizens to identify and isolate them.
Sibal said horse trading means trying to buy or persuade elected representatives.
He compared it with old stories about people using tricks when selling horses.
He said this practice can change the result that voters intended.
In his view, that makes horse trading a serious problem for democracy and the Constitution.
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal called himself a “Dimagi Naxal” during a talk in Kochi.
The term was coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and used by the BJP against alleged ideological sympathisers of Naxalism.
Modi has urged citizens to “identify and isolate” people he described as “dimagi naxals.”
Sibal described horse trading as a constitutional crisis rather than a passing political scandal.
He said elected representatives may be induced through cash, office, protection from investigation or a merger, changing the mandate given by voters.
- Who
- Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, with references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
- What
- Sibal called himself a “Dimagi Naxal” and described horse trading as a constitutional crisis affecting representative government and parliamentary democracy.
- When
- Sunday, September 13; the year is not specified in the articles.
- Where
- A talk in Kochi organised by LiveLaw.
- Why
- Sibal was discussing horse trading and democracy and used the term as a rhetorical reference to Modi’s criticism of alleged ideological sympathisers of Naxalism.
Sibal’s Criticism
Modi and BJP’s Warning
Meaning of “Dimagi Naxal”
Sibal’s Criticism
Sibal referred to himself as a “Dimagi Naxal” while beginning his speech, using the term in a rhetorical and self-referential way.
Modi and BJP’s Warning
Narendra Modi coined or used the term to warn about alleged ideological sympathisers of Naxalism whom he said had become entrenched in the system.
Horse Trading and Democracy
Sibal’s Criticism
Sibal said horse trading is an organised effort to induce elected representatives, undermines the voters’ mandate and constitutes a constitutional crisis.
Modi and BJP’s Warning
The articles do not provide a direct response from Modi or the BJP to Sibal’s comments; they describe the BJP’s broader use of the “Dimagi Naxal” accusation.
- Speaker
- Kapil Sibal, Rajya Sabha MP
- Event
- Talk titled “Horse Trade and Democracy”
- Location
- Kochi
- Date
- Sunday, September 13; year not specified
- Term discussed
- “Dimagi Naxal,” a term attributed to Narendra Modi
- Sibal’s characterization
- Horse trading is a constitutional crisis, not merely a political scandal
- Examples cited
- Cash, office, protection from investigation and a merger
