‘Attempt to stigmatise dissent’: Opposition hits out at PM Modi over ‘dimagi Naxal’ jibe

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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. File. | Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (August 15, 2026) said that people raising their voices for their rights were not anti-national and extended the party’s support to peaceful protests by Gen Z, as the Opposition criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "dimagi Naxals" remark.

Addressing the Independence Day function at the All India Congress Committee headquarters, Mr. Kharge said attempts to label those questioning the government as anti-national were contrary to the values for which the freedom struggle was fought. “Gen Z, which raises its voice for its rights, is not anti-national," he said, adding that the Congress would stand with movements concerning people’s rights.

Multiple Opposition parties objected to Mr. Modi’s use of the term “dimagi Naxals” (intellectually Naxals) in his Independence Day address, alleging that it was an attempt to stigmatise dissent and intimidate those questioning the government. They also criticised his appeal for political parties to help implement 33% reservation for women in legislatures, alleging that the government had itself kept the quota in abeyance by linking it to delimitation.

Mr. Kharge said Independence meant freedom not merely from foreign rule but from poverty, discrimination, untouchability, unemployment, injustice and fear. He credited successive Congress governments with building institutions and introducing rights-based legislation, including the right to information, education, food and work. He accused the Modi government of taking credit for the work of earlier governments and said the “real celebration of independence” would come when the poor were heard, young people could fulfil their dreams and no one feared speaking truth to power.

He also attacked the government over the treatment of protesting students, parliamentary accountability and the alleged theft of donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He said questions over gold, silver and other offerings at the temple should be answered and those responsible for any theft brought to book. Mr. Kharge also alleged government interference in institutions such as the judiciary, Election Commission, universities and investigative agencies.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Mr. Modi had first described his opponents as “urban Naxals” and was now calling them “dimagi Naxals”, terming it a “sure sign of his desperation”. Mr. Ramesh also termed the Prime Minister’s pitch for women’s reservation “dishonest”, pointing out that the legislation passed in 2023 was not implemented in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Congress president Mr. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister was claiming credit for all that the Congress has done and warned that “he may bring the national flag down one day”.