Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Chidambaram 'proud' to be 'dimagi Naxal', BJP slams remark
India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, gave a big speech from the Red Fort on Independence Day.
In the speech, he said that 'thinking Naxals' - people who agree with the ideas of Naxal groups - are still a problem for the country.
The next day, a senior leader from the Congress party, P. Chidambaram, said he was proud to be called one of those 'thinking Naxals'.
That made many leaders from the BJP, the Prime Minister's party, very angry.
They said Chidambaram has a soft spot for Naxals and is trying to protect them.
One BJP leader said Congress leaders are behaving worse than the Naxals.
Another BJP leader said that when Congress was in power, it never defeated any Naxal fighters, and that the current government did.
A minister from the Prime Minister's team explained that the Prime Minister was not talking about Congress leaders at all.
He said the term is meant for people who support Maoist ideas, do not follow the Constitution, and want to split the Northeast from India.
So the politicians are having a big argument, and everyone is explaining what the Prime Minister really meant.
P. Chidambaram, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister, said on X that he was 'proud to be a dimagi naxal', a day after PM Modi's Independence Day speech.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said from the Red Fort that 'dimagi Naxalism' continues to remain a challenge for the nation.
BJP leaders accused Chidambaram of having a 'soft corner' for Naxals and of providing cover to 'dimagi Naxals' and 'Urban Naxals'.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad called the remark 'highly irresponsible' and 'in bad taste' and demanded an explanation from the former Union Home Minister.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that Modi's remark was not aimed at opposition leaders, defining 'dimagi Naxals' as those who support Maoists, reject the Constitution, support Article 370, and seek Northeast separation.
- Who
- Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, and BJP leaders R.P. Singh, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Dinesh Sharma, Pradeep Bhandari and Ravi Shankar Prasad, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech.
- What
- Chidambaram declared he was 'proud' to be a 'dimagi Naxal', triggering sharp criticism from BJP leaders and a clarification from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- When
- Sunday, a day after Prime Minister Modi's Independence Day speech from the Red Fort.
- Where
- New Delhi and Patna; Modi spoke from the Red Fort.
- Why
- Chidambaram was reacting to Modi's statement that 'dimagi Naxalism' remains a challenge for the nation.
Chidambaram and Congress perspective
BJP leaders' perspective
Accepting the 'dimagi Naxal' label
Chidambaram and Congress perspective
Chidambaram said he was 'proud' to be counted among those described as 'dimagi Naxals', voluntarily embracing the label in a post on X.
BJP leaders' perspective
BJP leaders accused Chidambaram of having a 'soft corner' for Naxals and of trying to provide cover to 'dimagi Naxals' and 'Urban Naxals'; Hussain said Congress leaders' behaviour is 'worse than the Naxals'.
Target of Modi's remark
Chidambaram and Congress perspective
Chidambaram identified himself with the 'dimagi Naxal' label a day after Modi raised the issue, while Hussain noted the PM did not directly refer to Congressmen.
BJP leaders' perspective
Rijiju said Modi was not referring to opposition leaders; the term applies to those who support Maoists and reject the Constitution, stand with separatists and Article 370, and want to separate the Northeast from India.
Record on tackling Naxalism
Chidambaram and Congress perspective
Chidambaram expressed no shame in being called a 'dimagi Naxal', which BJP leaders said reflects a soft stance toward Maoism within the Congress ecosystem.
BJP leaders' perspective
Bhandari claimed Congress killed no Naxal terrorists during its tenure while under Modi and Amit Shah all top Naxal commanders were eliminated and poor tribals saved; Prasad claimed 76 BSF and CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists during the Manmohan Singh government.
- Central figure
- P. Chidambaram, senior Congress leader, former Finance Minister and former Union Home Minister
- Prime Minister
- Narendra Modi
- Trigger
- Modi's Independence Day speech calling 'dimagi Naxalism' a challenge
- Venue of speech
- Red Fort
- Timing of backlash
- Sunday, a day after the Independence Day speech
- Key BJP critics
- R.P. Singh, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Dinesh Sharma, Pradeep Bhandari, Ravi Shankar Prasad
- Clarification
- Kiren Rijiju said PM Modi's remark did not target opposition leaders
