Opposition leaders on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for again using the term “Dimagi Naxal” during his address at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), accusing him of turning an academic event into a political platform.
Modi referred to the term while addressing SRCC’s centenary celebrations on Saturday. He said those supporting 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,” Modi said, adding that the public was also seeing the “true colours” of those encouraging the “illness”.
Mallikarjun Kharge attacks Modi
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Modi’s visit to SRCC should have focused on young people, education, employment and their future.
Kharge accused the Prime Minister of using labels for political opponents instead of responding to questions about the government’s performance.
“Modi ji’s Modus Operandi — In democracy, to suppress questions, giving the opposition a new Adjective every year,” Kharge said, listing terms including “Naraz fufa”, “Dimagi Naxal”, “Urban Naxal”, “Khan Market Gang” and “Aandolajivi”.
Kharge further alleged that the labels keep changing while, in his view, the government’s policies remain unchanged.
Pawan Khera calls remarks an ‘inferiority complex’
Congress leader Pawan Khera also criticised Modi’s speech, arguing that the Prime Minister should have used the SRCC platform to present a vision for young Indians.
Khera described Modi’s repeated attacks on the Opposition as an expression of what he called an “inferiority complex”.
He questioned why, after years in office, Modi was focusing on political name-calling rather than offering what Khera described as a “vision” and “inspiring message” to the country’s youth.
Manoj Jha questions focus of SRCC address
RJD MP and Delhi University alumnus Manoj Kumar Jha also criticised Modi’s remarks.
Jha said the Prime Minister should have used his visit to discuss issues affecting students and teachers. He pointed to concerns around infrastructure and faculty at Delhi University and argued that these deserved attention during the occasion.
Jha also objected to the use of labels such as “Naraaz Fufa” and “Dimagi Naxal” for people who question the government.
Modi recalls his 2013 SRCC visit
During his nearly 50-minute address, Modi also looked back at his previous visit to SRCC in February 2013, when he was Gujarat chief minister.
He compared India’s economic situation in 2013 with its position today, saying the country had moved from what he described as “policy paralysis” to “policy dynamism” under the BJP-led government.
Modi said India in 2013 was dealing with challenges including terror attacks, inflation and corruption, while growth was low and inflation was high.
He also recalled his 2013 speech at SRCC and said it had triggered a “wave”. Referring to India’s current economic performance, he criticised those who had earlier placed the country among the “Fragile Five” economies and, he said, were now unable to accept India’s reported 7.8% growth.
The exchange has added another political dimension to Modi’s SRCC centenary address, with the Opposition focusing on his remarks about political critics while the Prime Minister used the occasion to contrast India’s economic position in 2013 with the present.
