Kiren Rijiju Clarifies PM Modi Mind Naxal Remark Amid Opposition Backlash

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday hit back at opposition parties for criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Maoist mindset statement. He emphasized that the Prime Minister didn't refer to opposition leaders as Mind Naxals or people with a Naxalite mindset. In a post on the social media platform X, Rijiju shared a list, stating that PM Modi was referring to this very list during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Saturday.

Rijiju Defines the Mind Naxal Category

Rijiju clearly stated that PM Modi didn't call opposition leaders Mind Naxals. According to the minister, the term Mind Naxal is reserved specifically for those who support Maoists and don't believe in the Indian Constitution. He further detailed that this category includes those who stand with separatists and support Article 370. On top of that, Rijiju pointed out that those who want to cut the Chicken's Neck to separate the North-East from India also fall under this definition. By sharing this list, the minister sought to draw a clear line between legitimate political opposition and those working against the integrity of the nation.

The Context of PM Modi's Red Fort Speech

Rijiju's comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on Saturday, where he said there is a need to identify and isolate Mind Naxals. This remark triggered an uproar within the opposition ranks. In his speech, PM Narendra Modi emphasized that while armed Naxals who took up weapons in the forests have been eliminated, there are Mind Naxals in different parts of the country who need to be identified and isolated so that the youth of the country can be brought together for a developed India.

PM Modi on the Influence of Maoist Thinking

PM Modi stated that for years, people with Maoist thinking were in public life and even in government committees. He argued that this thinking had affected many institutions and efforts. Addressing the nation, he said, My dear countrymen, we've succeeded in protecting and freeing the country from armed Naxals. However, he warned that even if these armed Naxals are gone, the Mind Naxals or people with a Naxalite mindset are looking for opportunities, finding ways of violence, and trying to lead the country on the wrong path. He stressed the necessity of identifying these individuals to ensure the progress of a developed nation.

Opposition Reaction and Chidambaram's Response

Earlier on Sunday, Congress leader P Chidambaram, pointing towards PM Modi's speech, wrote in a post on X that he's proud to be a Mind Naxal, while this was a direct response to the Prime Minister's warning. Following the Red Fort speech, the Congress party criticized PM Modi's remarks, calling his warning against ideological Naxals hollow political rhetoric. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reacted by saying that this term has no real meaning, drawing parallels to previous debates surrounding the term Urban Naxal.

Jairam Ramesh Questions the Definition

Jairam Ramesh alleged that two or three years ago, opponents were also called Urban Naxals. He recalled that at that time, a question was raised in Parliament regarding the definition of Urban Naxal. According to Ramesh, the Home Minister had replied that there is no such thing as an Urban Naxal, nor is there any definition for it. Ramesh criticized the Prime Minister for now using the term Mental Naxal or Ideological Naxal for his political opponents from the Red Fort, suggesting it's merely a new label for the same political targeting.