Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday clarified Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s use of the term “Dimaagi Naxals”. He said people who simply disagree with, criticise or question the government should not be called “Dimaagi Naxals”.
The term was used by PM Modi in his Independence Day speech, when he said that although armed Naxalism had been defeated, a Naxal mindset still existed in some sections of society.
The remark sparked controversy after a BJP social media post labelled several public figures as “Dimaagi Naxals”. Critics argued that the term was being used to target dissent and freedom of expression.
Speaking to India Today TV, Rijiju said the term was intended for people who support separatism, Maoist ideology or deliberately try to block India’s development.
FOUR CATEGORIES
Rijiju said the first category includes people who support separatist ideas, such as backing Article 370, which he linked to separatism.
The second category includes those who reject the Constitution and support Maoists or Naxalites who operate outside the constitutional system.
The third category, according to Rijiju, includes people who support calls to cut off the “Chicken’s Neck”, the narrow Siliguri Corridor connecting the Northeast with the rest of India.
The fourth category includes people who deliberately try to stop economic development by opposing major projects, which Rijiju said could hurt India’s growth.
CRITICISING THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ENOUGH
Rijiju specifically rejected the idea that someone becomes a “Dimaagi Naxal” simply because they disagree with the government or criticise its policies.
He said the term should instead apply to people who support separatism, armed Maoist ideology or actions that he believes threaten India’s constitutional and territorial integrity.
The clarification comes amid the ongoing political debate over how the term should be used and whether it risks being applied too broadly to government critics.
