NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting political rivals during his Diwali address to security personnel at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Chhattisgarh, accusing him of using a non-political occasion to launch a political attack.In a post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh objected to PM Modi‘s remarks on “Dimagi Naxals”, alleging that the prime minister had violated institutional norms by making political remarks while wearing the uniform of security personnel.“The Prime Minister has not spared the nation even on Diwali day his trademark abuse. He has once again spoken of what he calls dimagi naxals. He has used a very solemn non-political occasion, donned the uniform of the security forces, and hurled invectives at his political rivals. This is a brazen assault on all institutional norms but when has that ever stopped this man?” Jairam Ramesh said.“It was on April 28, 2024 that he had said that those demanding a caste census were urban naxals. Later on April 30, 2025, he announced that a caste census will be carried out as part of Census 2027. Earlier, in Sept 2020, he had called those agitating against the three black farm laws as supporters of a naxal ideology. Later, on Nov 19, 2021, he withdrew those very laws. The PM is clearly distraught, disturbed and desperate. Jhola-picking-up time is fast approaching,” he added.Ramesh’s remarks came after PM Modi said that although armed Naxalites had been eliminated from forests, the threat of Naxalism persisted, with “Dimagi Naxals” allegedly exercising influence over several organisations, including political parties.
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Addressing security personnel at a CRPF camp in Karanpur in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, PM Modi said such elements were inciting people against the Constitution and democracy and needed to be identified and defeated.“We must remember one thing. Naxalites have been eliminated, but the threat is not yet over. While armed Naxalites have been wiped out from the forests, ‘Dimagi Naxals’ have taken control of several organisations. Even today, they are inciting people against the country’s Constitution and democracy. These ‘Dimagi Naxals’ have also infiltrated several political parties and different organisations. We must identify them, defeat them and ensure the security of the nation,” he said.The remarks came months after the Centre announced on March 31 that the country had been freed from the menace of Naxalism, following the elimination of several Maoist leaders and cadres and the surrender of hundreds of others.
