Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has strongly responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks about “dimagi naxals,” saying he is “proud to be a dimagi naxal.” His statement came a day after the Prime Minister, while addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, alleged that people with a Maoist mindset had become part of the country’s policymaking system. According to the Prime Minister, such individuals had served as advisers on government committees and continued to influence public policy, urging citizens to identify and isolate what he described as this ideological threat.

Taking to social media platform X, Chidambaram dismissed the Prime Minister’s remarks with a sharp political response, declaring, “I am proud to be a dimagi naxal.” His reaction followed criticism from several Opposition leaders, who argued that the Prime Minister’s comments were an attempt to label dissenting voices and critics. The exchange has further intensified the political debate between the ruling BJP and the Congress, with both sides presenting contrasting views on nationalism, governance, and the role of ideological criticism in a democratic society.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Modi said his government had made eliminating Naxalism a top priority since taking office in 2014. He stated that decades of Maoist violence had claimed the lives of thousands of security personnel and civilians while destroying the future of millions of young people. The Prime Minister added that many regions once affected by Naxalite violence are now witnessing development, trust, and improved governance after being freed from insurgency. The remarks have since sparked a fresh political controversy, with the Congress accusing the government of using inflammatory language against its opponents, while the BJP maintains that the Prime Minister was highlighting an ideological challenge facing the country.