Chidambaram says proud to be 'dimagi Naxal' as Rijiju says PM didn't target Opposition

The political row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's use of the term "dimagi Naxals" (intellectual Naxals) in his Independence Day address intensified on Sunday, with senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram saying he was proud to be called that, and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju clarifying that the remark was not aimed at Opposition leaders.

In his address on the 80th Independence Day on August 15, Mr. Modi warned against "dimagi Naxals", alleging they had entrenched themselves in the system and continued to influence society through policy manipulation. He said that while "armed Naxals may have gone", "dimagi Naxals are lurking around", and called for "identifying and isolating" them.

On Sunday, Mr. Rijiju took to social media platform X to clarify the Prime Minister's remarks. He said they were directed only at those who "support Maoists and reject the Indian Constitution", those who "stand with separatists and support Article 370", and those who "want to cut the chicken neck to separate the north-east from India". Mr. Rijiju asserted that Mr. Modi did not call Opposition leaders "dimagi Naxals".

However, Mr. Chidambaram, a former Union Home Minister, responded with a post on X saying, "I am proud to be a dimagi Naxal!" His statement was seen as a direct challenge to the Prime Minister's characterization. Mr. Chidambaram is among the senior-most leaders of the Congress party, having served as Finance Minister and Home Minister in previous governments.

The Congress party also took issue with Mr. Rijiju's clarification. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera pointed to an apparent numbering error in Mr. Rijiju's list, writing, "Brother Kiren Rijiju, get your counting right first, then we'll answer. After 1 and 2 comes 3, not 4." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh backed Mr. Khera, commenting, "Entire Political Science's kamaal [magic]," in an apparent reference to Mr. Modi's educational qualification, listed in one of his affidavits as "entire political science".

Meanwhile, BJP leaders stepped up their attack on Mr. Chidambaram. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey shared an old video of the former Home Minister in which he purportedly argued against acquiring and inducting nuclear weapons without a wider debate in Parliament and the country. "Looking at the state of the world today, tell me if this statement by Chidambaram, a leader of Sonia Gandhi-led Congress, is the statement of a 'dimagi Naxal' or not?" Mr. Dubey asked on X.

BJP national general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santhosh also targeted Mr. Chidambaram, saying there was "no surprise" in his stance and alleging that he had been the "PMC (Project Management Consultant) of the saffron terrorism project of the UPA". BJP IT department head Amit Malviya said the term "dimagi Naxals" had "hit them right where it hurts", adding that it was "a delight to see them writhing like snakes in a sandpit".

The term "dimagi Naxal" has been used in political discourse to describe individuals perceived to sympathize with Maoist ideology while operating within mainstream institutions. The exchange underscores the deep political divisions over the government's approach to criticism and dissent, with the ruling party defending the Prime Minister's remarks as a warning against those who undermine national unity, and the Opposition viewing it as an attempt to stifle legitimate dissent.