NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “dimagi naxal” remarks by invoking former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 20-year-old assessment of the threat.In a social media post on X, Rijiju shared former PM’s speech in which he had said that “naxalism is the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country.””Congress party must apologise & say sorry to the Family of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh ji,” Rijiju said.This comes after PM Modi, during his Independence Day speech, said that while Naxals who took up arms in the jungle have been eliminated, there are also “dimagi naxals”, who are in various parts of the country and need to be “identified and isolated.””For years, people with Maoist thinking were there in public life, even in government committees this thinking had affected various institutions and initiatives. My dear countrymen, we have been able to curb and free the country from ‘hathariya naxal’ (armed naxal),” The Prime Minister said.”Even if these naxals are gone, but the ‘dimagi naxal’ (people with naxal thinking), are looking for an opportunity, looking to see ways of violence, and trying to drag the country to a wrong path. We need to identify these dimagi naxal, isolate them, and bring the youth together for a developed country,” he added.The opposition latched on to PM Modi’s remarks and dismissed it as a hollow political rhetoric.Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the term carries no real substance, drawing a parallel to previous debates surrounding the phrase “urban naxal”.”Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents ‘urban naxals’; at that time, the question arose in Parliament as to what the definition of ‘Urban Naxal’ was. The home minister replied that there is no such thing as an ‘urban naxal,’ nor is there any definition for it. Today, the Prime Minister is using the term ‘mental naxal’ (ideological Naxal) for his political opponents from the Red Fort,” Jairam Ramesh alleged.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also targeted PM Modi and said that he is a “dimagi naxal” because he is a patriot.”Yes. I am a dimagi naxal. Because I am a patriot. And I am proud of it,” kejriwal said in a post on X.Earlier, on Sunday Rijiju had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on “dimagi naxals” were not meant for the opposition leader and said that “dimagi naxals” referred only to those who supported Maoists and rejected Constitution.”PM Narendra Modi ji didn’t say opposition leaders as dimagi naxals,” Rijiju said in a social media post on X.”Only following are dimagi naxals: 1. Who support Maoists and reject Indian Constitution. 2. Who stand with separatists & support Article 370. 3. Who want to cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India,” he added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. 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NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “dimagi naxal” remarks by invoking former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 20-year-old assessment of the threat.In a social media post on X, Rijiju shared former PM’s speech in which he had said that “naxalism is the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country.”“Congress party must apologise & say sorry to the Family of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh ji,” Rijiju said.This comes after PM Modi, during his Independence Day speech, said that while Naxals who took up arms in the jungle have been eliminated, there are also “dimagi naxals”, who are in various parts of the country and need to be “identified and isolated.”“For years, people with Maoist thinking were there in public life, even in government committees this thinking had affected various institutions and initiatives. My dear countrymen, we have been able to curb and free the country from ‘hathariya naxal’ (armed naxal),” The Prime Minister said.“Even if these naxals are gone, but the ‘dimagi naxal’ (people with naxal thinking), are looking for an opportunity, looking to see ways of violence, and trying to drag the country to a wrong path. We need to identify these dimagi naxal, isolate them, and bring the youth together for a developed country,” he added.The opposition latched on to PM Modi’s remarks and dismissed it as a hollow political rhetoric.Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the term carries no real substance, drawing a parallel to previous debates surrounding the phrase “urban naxal”.“Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents ‘urban naxals’; at that time, the question arose in Parliament as to what the definition of ‘Urban Naxal’ was. The home minister replied that there is no such thing as an ‘urban naxal,’ nor is there any definition for it. Today, the Prime Minister is using the term ‘mental naxal’ (ideological Naxal) for his political opponents from the Red Fort,” Jairam Ramesh alleged.
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AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also targeted PM Modi and said that he is a “dimagi naxal” because he is a patriot.“Yes. I am a dimagi naxal. Because I am a patriot. And I am proud of it,” kejriwal said in a post on X.Earlier, on Sunday Rijiju had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on “dimagi naxals” were not meant for the opposition leader and said that “dimagi naxals” referred only to those who supported Maoists and rejected Constitution.“PM Narendra Modi ji didn’t say opposition leaders as dimagi naxals,” Rijiju said in a social media post on X.“Only following are dimagi naxals: 1. Who support Maoists and reject Indian Constitution. 2. Who stand with separatists & support Article 370. 3. Who want to cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India,” he added.
