Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, stated that his government had completely eradicated the bloody Naxals from the country, but that the country now faces a threat from “mindless Naxals.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to “mindless Naxals” (ideological Naxals) in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort has sparked sharp political reactions, and the term “mindless Naxals” has now become a focal point in national politics.
Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has retorted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “mindless Naxal” comment, saying he is “proud of being a mindless Naxal,” sparking a new political controversy between the ruling party and the opposition.
Senior Congress leader and former Home and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram openly stated on social media that if dissent and intellectual thinking are called “mindful Naxals,” he is proud to stand with such views. Congress and other opposition leaders say that the government, by using such terms, seeks to suppress dissenting voices and intellectual debate in the country.
Following P. Chidambaram’s social media post about “mindful Naxals,” BJP leaders, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, retorted, clarifying that the Prime Minister’s target was not any political party or legitimate dissent, but rather those elements trying to promote violence and anarchy in society. Key points of the Prime Minister’s speech: End of armed Naxalism: PM Modi stated that security forces have virtually eliminated terrorism and Naxalism in the jungles through arms. He warned that even after abandoning the path of violence, some individuals, posing as ideological or “mindful Naxals,” are still seeking to spread anarchy in society.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson and MP Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi held a press conference on the “mindful Naxal” statement. In the conference, he sharply criticized Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech. Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned whether Congress believes former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (who described Naxalism as the biggest threat) or today’s self-proclaimed “mindful Naxal” Chidambaram. He recalled that during the UPA government, Naxalism had spread, causing heavy losses to security forces and civilians. Despite then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calling Naxalism the country’s biggest internal problem, he failed to take any action to curb it simply because the NAC, which was tightly controlled by Sonia Gandhi and individuals with “mindful Naxal” views, had a strong hold on it.
He also alleged that those who are unhappy with development (mobile towers, banks, and healthcare facilities) in Naxal-affected areas are actually suffering from “mindful Naxal” thinking.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon the youth and citizens of the country to identify and isolate such Naxal-minded people.