Proud to be dimagi Naxal: P Chidambaram hits back at PM Modi's Red Fort remark

Chidambaram's remarks came a day after PM Modi warned against "dimagi naxals" whom he accused of infiltrating the system and influencing policies, urging citizens to "identify and isolate" them.The prime minister urged citizens to “identify and isolate” such people, warning that the challenge should not be underestimated and required continued vigilance.Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “dimagi naxal” remark, saying, “I am proud to be a dimagi naxal.”Chidambaram’s response came a day after PM Modi, in his Independence Day address, warned against what he described as “dimagi naxals” — people with a Maoist mindset who, he alleged, had entrenched themselves in the system and influenced public policy.“I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!” Chidambaram said in a post on X, hitting back at the prime minister’s remarks. Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on Saturday, PM Modi said India had succeeded in eliminating armed Naxalism from the forests but cautioned that its ideological supporters continued to pose a threat by seeking opportunities to promote violence and anarchy.“For years, people with a Maoist mindset had established themselves in the corridors of power. They had served as advisers on government committees and influenced public policy,” the Prime Minister said. The prime minister urged citizens to “identify and isolate” such people, warning that the challenge should not be underestimated and required continued vigilance.PM Modi also highlighted the toll of decades of Naxal and Maoist violence, saying it had destroyed the lives and aspirations of millions of young people. He said more than 3,500 police and security personnel had been killed in the conflict.“Naxalism held a very large part of India and a huge population in its grip, at gunpoint,” PM Modi said.He said his government, which came to power in 2014, had made ending Naxalism a priority and asserted that the decades-old challenge was now being brought to an end.“Decades-old challenges must be brought to an end. Naxalism and Maoism have destroyed the future of millions of young people. They have taken away the sons of countless mothers, ruined families, and shattered the dreams of parents,” he said.He added that areas once affected by Naxalite violence were now witnessing development and a return of the national flag.“Today, I am happy that Naxalite and Maoist violence is being brought to an end. In areas where the bullets of Naxalites once rang out, where bloodshed was once commonplace, the tricolour of development, trust, and effort is now flying because these areas have been freed from Naxalism,” he said.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 16, 2026 11:02 IST