'New labels to hide failures': Oppn corners PM over ‘Dimagi Naxal, Naraz fufa’ remarks at SRCC

Narendra Modi, speaking at SRCC’s centenary celebrations, referred again to the term he first used in his Independence Day address last month. Opposition leaders on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reviving his “Dimagi Naxal” remark during his address at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). The Opposition accused him of using a prestigious academic platform to target his political critics instead of addressing issues concerning students and education.Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge slams Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent 'Dimagi Naxal' remarks at an event in DU's SRCC (File photos/ANI)The criticism came a day after Modi, speaking at SRCC’s centenary celebrations, again referred to the term he first used in his Independence Day address. The Prime Minister said those supporting the ideas he had criticised were now being “exposed”.“As soon as I gave the ‘Dimagi Naxal’ homeopathy pill, all the ‘Dimagi Naxals’ started coming out one by one. And now the public is also seeing the true colours of those who are encouraging this illness,” Modi said.Deep Dive‘Yet another political campaign’Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Modi’s visit to SRCC should have been an opportunity to engage with young people on education, employment and their future, but instead turned into a political attack.“Yesterday, you visited SRCC at Delhi University. It was an opportunity for dialogue on the country's youth, education, and their future. But alas, instead of facing the youth's questions, the speech turned into yet another political campaign.”Kharge accused the Prime Minister of repeatedly using labels against his political opponents instead of addressing questions about the government’s performance.“Modi ji's Modus Operandi — In democracy, to suppress questions, giving the opposition a new Adjective every year.. so that their own failures remain hidden! Naraz fufa, Dimagi Naxal, Urban Naxal, Khan Market Gang, Aandolajivi, Parasite,” Kharge added.“Adjectives keep changing, but the Modi government's anti-people policies do not change.” the Congress president added.Congress leader Pawan Khera also hit out at Modi, saying the Prime Minister’s repeated attacks on the Opposition reflected an “inferiority complex”.“An imposition of superiority is often the worst expression of an inferiority complex.”Khera said that after 12 years in office, Modi should have used the SRCC platform to present a vision for young Indians rather than resorting to political name-calling.“After 12 years as Prime Minister, the fact that he still has no vision, no inspiring message, and nothing positive to offer the country’s youth at a prestigious institution like SRCC - and instead resorts to name-calling the Opposition - is a damning indictment of a Prime Minister who has run out of ideas, run out of substance, and apparently run out of anything meaningful to say.”RJD MP and Delhi University alumnus Manoj Kumar Jha also criticised Modi’s remarks, saying the Prime Minister should have used the occasion to discuss problems faced by students and teachers."I will not make an irresponsible or discourteous comment like the Prime Minister did. I will maintain the dignity of his office, even if he failed to uphold the dignity of Teachers' Day. The college that the Prime Minister attended has a history spanning over 100 years. Please respect that institution. What are the basic problems faced by students and teachers? I have been a teacher and a student at Delhi University. Earlier, asking questions while opposing the government was not considered a crime. Today, if someone questions the government's growth story, they are labelled anti-national, 'Naraaz Fufa' or 'Dimagi Naxal'. That is the difference you have created in this country."Jha pointed to what he described as longstanding infrastructure and faculty-related concerns at Delhi University, saying these deserved attention during the Prime Minister’s visit."I wonder who writes your scripts. Perhaps they have decided to destroy whatever little is left. At least recheck it. This repeated use of 'Naraaz Fufa' perhaps comes to mind only when it feels like the time for farewell is approaching."Modi recalls 2013 SRCC speechModi, meanwhile, used his nearly 50-minute address to look back at his previous visit to SRCC in February 2013, when he was Gujarat chief minister and the BJP was in Opposition at the Centre, a year before he became Prime Minister.He contrasted the economic situation in 2013 with India’s position today, saying the country had moved from “policy paralysis” to “policy dynamism” under the BJP-led government.“India in 2013 was dealing with a series of challenges, including terror attacks, inflation and corruption. Growth was at its lowest and inflation was at the peak,” Modi said.He also recalled his 2013 address, saying it had triggered a “wave”, while targeting those who had placed India among the “Fragile Five” economies and were now unable to accept the country’s reported 7.8% growth.Priyanshu Priya is a journalist with nearly three years of newsroom experience, driven by a deep belief that stories, when told right, can shape conversations and hold power to account. Currently working as a Senior Content Producer with Hindustan Times, she writes on a wide spectrum of issues, from Indian politics and Delhi’s public concerns to global trade tensions and high-stakes crime stories. Priya joined HT at a pivotal moment, as Operation Sindoor was unfolding, and has since covered some of the most defining developments in recent times. Her reporting spans the Air India plane crash and the Pahalgam terror attack to India–US trade tensions, unrest in the Middle East, and key Assembly elections across states. She thrives in the fast-paced world of breaking news. In 2025–26, she was recognised with the Hindustan Times Digi Journo of the Q3 Award for driving over 4 million page views in a single month. A postgraduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and a Mass Communication graduate from Patna Women’s College, Priya began her news career with the Zee News English team, where she extensively covered the Lok Sabha Election 2024, along with the Delhi and Maharashtra Assembly elections. When she’s not tracking or writing the next big development, she unwinds by watching series and films, reading books with strong female protagonists, and revisiting comfort shows for the familiar ease they bring when life feels a little too jittery.Read MoreCongressPm ModiSrccGet the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.