Pawan Khera attacks Kiren Rijiju over ‘Dimaagi Naxal’ row, calls PM Modi’s remark a political setback

New Delhi, August 18, 2026; The political dispute surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to “dimaagi Naxals” in his Independence Day speech escalated on Tuesday, with Congress leader Pawan Khera accusing the government of attempting to shift attention towards the opposition.

Khera responded after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Prime Minister’s remarks and alleged that the Congress was increasingly adopting what he described as Maoist and Naxalite positions.

The controversy began after PM Modi, during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on August 15, spoke about the decline of armed Naxal violence while warning against what he termed an ideological or intellectual form of Naxalism. He called for such elements to be identified and isolated.

The remarks triggered criticism from opposition leaders. Congress MP P Chidambaram subsequently said he was “proud” to be a “dimagi naxal”, further intensifying the political exchange.

Khera argued that the controversy had become a problem for the government rather than a setback for the Congress. He alleged that Rijiju’s intervention was aimed at limiting the political fallout from the Prime Minister’s statement and redirecting the debate towards the Congress.

The Congress leader also claimed that the phrase had gained attention beyond the original political context, suggesting that attempts to use it as a criticism had instead generated a wider public and political discussion.

Rijiju, however, maintained that the Prime Minister had not specifically identified any opposition party while making the reference. He questioned why Congress leaders had interpreted the statement as being directed at them.

The Union minister accused the Congress of moving closer to Maoist ideology and referred to the former National Advisory Council under Sonia Gandhi while making his argument. He also linked what he described as “ideological Naxalism” with separatist positions and demands concerning issues such as Article 370 and the relationship between the Northeast and the rest of India.

Rijiju further argued that although armed Naxal groups had been substantially weakened, the government remained concerned about the continuation of what it considers extremist ideology in urban and intellectual spaces.

Khera rejected the allegations and said the Congress was not responsible for the controversy. He instead accused the government of facing broader public dissatisfaction and said the Prime Minister’s “dimaagi Naxal” description had created a political controversy of its own.

The exchange has added another layer to the ongoing confrontation between the BJP-led government and the Congress, with both sides now using the Naxalism debate to challenge each other’s political positions.