Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on "dimagi Naxals", accusing him of using Diwali celebrations with security personnel in Chhattisgarh to attack political opponents and violate established institutional conventions.
Ramesh described the Prime Minister's remarks as a "brazen assault on all institutional norms", alleging that Modi had turned a solemn, non-political occasion into an opportunity to target his critics.
In a post on X, the Congress leader said the Prime Minister had once again used the expression "dimagi Naxals" while addressing security personnel during Diwali celebrations in Bastar.
"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," Ramesh said.
"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?" he added.
The Congress leader also accused Modi of repeatedly using labels associated with extremism to describe those who disagree with his government's policies.
𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀
Ramesh referred to the Prime Minister's earlier use of the expression "urban Naxals", drawing comparisons with political controversies surrounding the demand for a caste census and the farmers' protests against the three central farm laws.
He recalled Modi's remarks on April 28, 2024, when the Prime Minister had criticised those advocating a caste census, and contrasted them with the government's subsequent announcement on April 30, 2025, that caste enumeration would be included in the 2027 Census.
The Congress leader also referred to the farmers' agitation, alleging that those opposing the agricultural laws had been associated with Naxal ideology before the government eventually withdrew the legislation.
The three farm laws were repealed in November 2021 following prolonged protests by farmers' organisations.
Ramesh argued that the government's reversal on certain policies demonstrated a contradiction between its earlier criticism of political opponents and its subsequent decisions.
He concluded his remarks with another attack on the Prime Minister, saying, "The PM is clearly distraught, disturbed and desperate. Jhola-picking-up time is fast approaching."
𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁
The Congress leader's criticism followed Modi's address to security personnel at a Central Reserve Police Force camp in Karanpur in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, where the Prime Minister celebrated Diwali with personnel involved in anti-Maoist operations.
Modi said the country had achieved major successes against armed Naxalism but warned that the ideological threat associated with the movement had not disappeared.
He alleged that individuals supporting Naxalite ideology had established a presence in several organisations, including political parties, and continued to encourage opposition to constitutional and democratic institutions.
The Prime Minister called for identifying and defeating such elements, describing their activities as a continuing threat to national security.
Modi also credited security forces and government policies for the progress made against Left-Wing Extremism, saying that sustained operations had weakened armed Maoist groups and disrupted their support networks.
He maintained that the government's approach had allowed security personnel greater operational freedom in combating the insurgency.
𝗣𝗠 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
During his address, Modi accused previous governments of restricting the ability of security forces to respond effectively to Maoist attacks.
He said his administration had empowered personnel deployed in affected regions to take necessary operational decisions and had acted against networks allegedly supporting Left-Wing Extremism.
The Prime Minister also referred to measures taken to disrupt financial channels used by Naxalite and separatist organisations.
He described the progress against armed Maoist groups as a result of political determination and the efforts of security personnel deployed in difficult conditions.
The government has repeatedly highlighted the decline in Maoist violence and the surrender of insurgents as evidence of the effectiveness of its security strategy.
𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀
The latest exchange follows a similar controversy in August, when Modi referred to "dimagi Naxals" during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.
At the time, Opposition leaders accused the Prime Minister of using terminology associated with extremism to discredit political critics, activists and intellectuals.
Ramesh had then questioned the use of the expression and accused Modi of attempting to portray dissenting voices as threats to the country.
The government, however, defended the remarks. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in August that the expression was not directed at Opposition leaders but at individuals supporting Maoism, separatism and activities undermining the Constitution.
The latest controversy has renewed the political disagreement over the distinction between ideological support for extremism and legitimate democratic dissent.
While the Prime Minister has maintained that the country must remain vigilant against ideological networks supporting Naxalism, the Congress has questioned the use of such descriptions in political discourse.
Sunday's exchange came as Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel in Bastar, a region that has been central to the country's prolonged campaign against Left-Wing Extremism.