Xplorich
NEW DELHI: BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday hit back at Congress leader P Chidambaram over his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark, questioning the Congress’ position on Naxalism by invoking former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 2006 assessment of the threat.Trivedi said PM Modi had raised the issue in his Independence Day address and questioned Chidambaram’s decision to embrace the label a day later.“PM Modi raised a very important topic of ‘Dimagi Naxal’ on Independence Day. We are surprised that within 24 hours of this, Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that he is proud of being a ‘Dimagi Naxal,'” Trivedi said.His remarks came a day after Chidambaram responded to PM Modi’s Independence Day speech by saying, “I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!”Trivedi then cited a statement made by Manmohan Singh on April 13, 2006, when the former prime minister described Naxalism as a major internal security challenge.Also read –‘Proud to be a dimagi naxal’: P Chidambaram hits back at PM Modi“I want to remind Congress and P Chidambaram that on 13th April 2006, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh said, “It would not be an exaggeration to say that the problem of Naxalism is the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country”,” Trivedi said.“I want to ask the Congress – who was right, Dr Manmohan Singh or P Chidambaram?” he added.Chidambaram’s response to PM ModiChidambaram’s remarks came after PM Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, warned about what he described as a ‘dimagi naxal’ or Naxal mindset.PM Modi said armed Naxalism was nearing its end but cautioned that people with an ideological Naxal mindset could continue to pose a threat.“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,” PM Modi said.He also urged people to “identify and isolate” those he accused of seeking opportunities to promote violence and unrest.Chidambaram’s response followed criticism from other Congress leaders over the Prime Minister’s remarks. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused PM Modi of reviving labels such as “urban naxal” and “dimagi naxal” to target political opponents.“First, you make derogatory remarks–calling them ‘Urban Naxals’ or ‘Mental Naxals’–but later, you accept the very demands your political opponents were making,” Ramesh said, according to ANI.BJP-Congress clash over NaxalismThe BJP has defended PM Modi’s remarks and sought to frame the debate around internal security and ideological challenges, while the Congress has questioned the use of terms such as ‘dimagi Naxal’ against political critics.Trivedi’s attack specifically sought to contrast the Congress’ current response with the position taken by the Congress-led UPA government under Manmohan Singh.PM Modi had also said that the government had prioritised eliminating Naxalism since coming to power in 2014, claiming that decades of Maoist violence had damaged the lives and aspirations of young people and resulted in the deaths of security personnel.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
“In 2014, when you gave us the opportunity we had decided that we will rid the country of naxalism, and today I am happy to announce that naxalism does not have even the strength for breathing,” PM Modi said.The remarks have triggered a wider political debate over the distinction between armed Naxalism, ideological opposition and dissent, with opposition parties accusing the government of using the terminology to target its critics.The BJP has maintained that the term refers to individuals or ideological networks that it believes indirectly support or promote anti-national narratives.
