Opposition leaders on Saturday took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he appeared to fumble during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, with Congress and AAP leaders sharing a clip of the moment and questioning his delivery.
“He had dismissed the idea of a caste census as ‘Urban Naxal’ thinking, yet a year ago, he announced a caste-based census. Sharing the part of the video on social media, Congress leader Pawan Khera wrote, “Superhuman without teleprompter ( Mahamanav bina teleprompter ke ). Ramesh also accused the government of first attacking critics for raising certain issues and later adopting the same demands.
“Even after 12 years, there was nothing new in his political speech,” the Congress leader said.
“Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents ‘Urban Naxals’; at that time, the question arose in Parliament as to what the definition of ‘Urban Naxal’ was. The Home Minister replied that there is no such thing as an ‘Urban Naxal,’ nor is there any definition for it. He further credited the Congress and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi with laying the groundwork for women’s political representation through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
Ramesh said the Parliament had unanimously passed the women’s reservation law in September 2023, but alleged that the Modi government deliberately delayed its implementation.
Earlier reporting noted: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Saturday, warned of a new enemy: “Dimaagi Naxal”. Earlier reporting noted: The Prime Minister did not elaborate on the phrase, but cautioned that such “Dimaagi Naxals need to be identified and isolated”. Earlier reporting noted: “Armed Naxals are gone, but ‘intellectual Naxals’ still lurking; we must be vigilant,” PM Modi said, addressing the nation on India’s 80th Independence Day.
Today, the Prime Minister is using the term ‘Mental Naxal’ (ideological Naxal) for his political opponents from the Red Fort,” Jairam Ramesh said.
The Opposition’s criticism extended beyond the Prime Minister’s delivery, with the Congress taking particular exception to his remarks on “dimagi Naxals” or ideological Naxals.
