Patna, August 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday criticised senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram over his “dimagi Naxal” remark and demanded an explanation from him, calling the statement irresponsible and inappropriate.
Addressing a press conference in Patna, Prasad said Chidambaram, despite being a former Union Home Minister, Rajya Sabha member and senior Supreme Court lawyer, should have understood the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on “dimagi Naxals” made during his Independence Day address.
Prasad said the Prime Minister, while outlining his vision for a developed India by 2047, spoke about the country’s progress in eliminating Naxalism and cautioned against individuals who continue to harbour a “Naxalite mindset”.
Reacting to the statement, Chidambaram wrote on X, “I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!”
Prasad questioned what Chidambaram intended to convey through the remark and said greater responsibility was expected from a senior political leader with his experience.
Recalling his tenure as Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge, Prasad claimed he had witnessed the changing security situation in the state first-hand. He alleged that sections within the Congress had historically maintained a soft approach towards Maoism and Naxalism.
He further claimed that “dimagi Naxal” and “Urban Naxal” reflected the same broader ideological mindset, and alleged that Chidambaram’s remarks offered insight into the functioning of the Congress-led UPA government.
Prasad also accused the former Home Minister of adopting a conciliatory approach towards Maoists during the Manmohan Singh government. He alleged that 76 BSF and CRPF personnel were killed in Maoist attacks during that period and claimed that Chidambaram had supported holding talks with Maoists. These allegations were not independently established in the statement.
The BJP leader also attacked the Congress over the ongoing controversy surrounding “Vande Mataram”. He criticised the party leadership for opposing the singing of the national song at its headquarters and said the Congress should apologise to the country.
Prasad said it was particularly unfortunate for a party that claims a central role in India’s freedom struggle to be accused of showing disrespect towards “Vande Mataram”.
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