Kejriwal says PM would have called Bhagat Singh, Ambedkar 'dimagi Naxals'

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that if freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were alive today, the Prime Minister would have branded them 'dimagi Naxals' (intellectual Naxals) for questioning the system.

In a video message, Mr. Kejriwal responded to the Prime Minister's Independence Day address from the Red Fort, in which Mr. Modi warned about 'dimagi Naxals' and said they needed to be identified and isolated. The term, a play on 'Naxal' (Maoist insurgents), was widely interpreted as a reference to intellectuals and activists who question the government.

Mr. Kejriwal said he was proud to be called a 'dimagi Naxal' if it meant being a patriot who questions a rotten system, stands against corruption, and dreams of a corruption-free India. He said that according to the Prime Minister, anyone who has the courage to question things in the country, or wants good government schools, hospitals, electricity, water, sewerage, drainage, and good governance, is a 'dimagi Naxal'.

"If Bhagat Singh were alive today, the Prime Minister would call him a 'dimagi Naxal' too. If Babasaheb Ambedkar, who fought for equality for everyone, were alive today, the Prime Minister would not spare him either and would call him a dimagi Naxal as well. I want to tell the Prime Minister that I, Arvind Kejriwal, am a 'dimagi Naxal' according to him because I am a patriot, and I am proud of it," Mr. Kejriwal said.

The AAP chief also alleged that anyone who is not afraid of the Prime Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and dreams of a developed India, is considered a 'dimagi Naxal' by Mr. Modi.

Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also attacked the Prime Minister, alleging that he was troubled by protests from younger generations. "They are asking to stop examination leaks, fix our schools and improve our lives. The Prime Minister is so troubled that sometimes he gets up at 12 midnight to make reels, and at other times he calls these very young people dimagi naxal," he said.

The Prime Minister's remark has sparked a political controversy, with opposition leaders and civil society members expressing varied reactions. Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram reportedly said he was proud to be a 'dimagi Naxal', while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Prime Minister, saying he did not mean opposition leaders.

Political observers note that the exchange comes at a time when the AAP and the BJP are expected to be in direct competition in upcoming state elections. The AAP has positioned itself as a party focused on education, healthcare, and anti-corruption measures, while the BJP has emphasised national security and development.

Mr. Kejriwal's comments highlight a broader debate about the use of labels in political discourse and the space for dissent in a democracy. While critics of the Prime Minister argue that the phrase 'dimagi Naxal' is an attempt to stifle dissent, supporters say it refers to those who endorse violence for ideological reasons.

As leaders from both sides trade barbs, the focus remains on issues such as governance, education, healthcare, and corruption that politicians claim to address. The exchange also underscores the increasingly sharp rhetoric in Indian politics ahead of electoral battles.