# Indian political controversy over ‘dimagi Naxal’ label > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/indian-political-controversy-over-dimagi-naxal-label > Updated: 2026-08-22T14:34:38.000Z. Sources: 75. Developments: 5. During his 80th Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of a threat from ‘dimagi Naxals’ (intellectual Naxals). He alleged that individuals with a Maoist mindset have influenced public policy and called for these elements to be ‘identified and isolated’ to protect national development. The Prime Minister’s remarks triggered significant political backlash. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that the comments were not directed at opposition leaders but at those seeking to undermine the Indian Constitution or national unity. Rijiju defended the term, accusing the Congress party of transforming into a ‘Maoist and Naxalite entity’ that advocates for the country’s fragmentation. He defined ‘Dimagi Naxals’ as those who support the separation of the Northeast or Article 370 and lack empathy for security personnel killed in conflict. Opposition leaders, including P Chidambaram and Arvind Kejriwal, responded by embracing the label. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge further criticized the Prime Minister, arguing that the government should prioritize addressing public concerns like unemployment and inflation rather than engaging in political rhetoric. This tension extended to disputes over the singing of ‘Vande Mataram,’ with Union Home Minister Amit Shah labeling the Congress party’s version as ‘anti-national.’ In response, critics and dissenters have reclaimed the term on social media. An Instagram account named ‘Dimagi Naxal Party’ has gone viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers. Using the slogan ‘Think, Research, Resist,’ the account uses political satire to suggest that questioning the government should be a point of pride for the youth. Other users on platforms like X have also adopted the label as a ‘badge of honour’ to signal opposition to perceived injustice. ## Claims - Mallikarjun Kharge urged the government to prioritize unemployment, inflation, and investment. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the term ‘dimagi naxals’ to describe certain individuals in the country. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Congress party follows a two-stanza version of Vande Mataram decided by leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. (single source) - Union Home Minister Amit Shah characterized the Congress party’s decision to sing only two stanzas of Vande Mataram as ‘anti-national’. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-22: Mallikarjun Kharge criticizes PM Modi over ‘dimagi naxals’ remark Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticized PM Modi over ‘dimagi naxals’ remarks and defended the party’s use of a two-stanza version of Vande Mataram against BJP accusations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mallikarjun-kharge-criticizes-pm-modi-over-dimagi-naxals-remark ### 2026-08-17: Kiren Rijiju sparks controversy over ‘Dimagi Naxal’ label Indian Minister Kiren Rijiju has sparked controversy by using the term ‘Dimagi Naxal’ to describe the Congress party, a label that dissenters are now reclaiming on social media as a badge of honour. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kiren-rijiju-sparks-controversy-over-dimagi-naxal-label ### 2026-08-17: Arvind Kejriwal embraces ‘mental Naxal’ label in response to PM Modi Arvind Kejriwal has embraced the label ‘mental Naxal’ in response to PM Modi, claiming the term targets those who demand better public services and question the current system. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/arvind-kejriwal-embraces-mental-naxal-label-in-response-to-pm-modi ### 2026-08-17: Dimagi Naxal Party Instagram account goes viral after Modi remarks An anonymous Instagram account named ‘Dimagi Naxal Party’ has gone viral, reclaiming a term used by PM Narendra Modi to describe ideological Naxals as a form of political satire and youth resistance. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dimagi-naxal-party-instagram-account-goes-viral-after-modi-remarks ### 2026-08-15: India: PM Modi warns of ‘dimagi Naxals’ threat PM Modi warned of ‘dimagi Naxals’ (intellectual Naxals) posing a threat to India, sparking a political row with the Congress party, which accused him of using the term to target political opponents. 67 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/narendra-modi-warns-of-dimaagi-naxals-in-independence-day-speech --- Cite as: Indian political controversy over ‘dimagi Naxal’ label. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/indian-political-controversy-over-dimagi-naxal-label