BJP MP claims 'intellectual Naxals' more dangerous than forest extremists, Congress reacts

In a Facebook video shared on Monday (August 17, 2026), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal described “dimagi Naxals” (intellectual Naxals) as a greater threat to India than left-wing extremists operating in forested regions. The term was used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address on August 15.

Mr. Lal, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 1977 batch, said these individuals do not live in forests or wilderness areas, nor do they carry weapons or fire bullets. “They rely solely on their intellect. In cities, they are seen in the guise of professors, teachers, NGO leaders, intellectuals, poets, and writers. They write articles and organise conferences and seminars. They instil their violent ideology in the minds of young people. These Naxalites are far more dangerous than those who lived in the forests,” he said in the video.

The primary aim of such individuals, Mr. Lal claimed, was to undermine public confidence in India’s democratic institutions. “They sow seeds of distrust among the people about our Constitution, democratic institutions, the judiciary, and security forces,” he stated.

The Congress party responded sharply to the remarks. Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam said, “After the Prime Minister spoke about ‘dimagi Naxal’, the playbook is clear. The authoritarian BJP regime will try to single out and target intellectuals, academicians, journalists and writers who speak about logic, reasoning, democratic values and a just society. Mr. Brij Lal’s statement shows which section [of society] will be targeted and oppressed by the BJP. It is a very dangerous sign for the country.”

The expression “dimagi Naxal” gained national attention when Prime Minister Modi used it in his Independence Day speech. He said Naxalism had been eliminated in the country, but “dimagi Naxals” had to be “identified and isolated” so that the youth of India could be brought together to realise the goals of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Naxalism, also known as left-wing extremism, has been a long-standing internal security challenge in India, with insurgent groups active in several states. The term “Naxal” derives from the village Naxalbari in West Bengal, where a peasant revolt in 1967 led to the formation of Maoist groups.

Mr. Lal’s comments have added to a growing political debate over the government’s use of the phrase “dimagi Naxal”. While the BJP has not issued an official statement on the matter, the video has been shared widely on social media. Critics argue that labelling intellectuals and activists as “Naxals” could stifle dissent, while supporters maintain that such individuals seek to destabilise the country through propaganda.

The Congress has called for the government to clarify the meaning of the term, saying it is being used to target voices of dissent. No official response from the Prime Minister’s Office or the BJP had been received at the time of reporting.