‘Rattled’, ‘desperate to curb dissent’: Opposition slams PM Modi over ‘dimagi Naxal’ jibe

PM Narendra Modi's speech this year marked another stage in an evolution visible across his 12 previous addresses. 7 min readNew DelhiAug 16, 2026 03:20 AM IST First published on: Aug 15, 2026 at 08:02 PM IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call Saturday to identify and isolate “dimagi Naxals” (those with a Maoist mindset) who were “looking for ways of violence and anarchy”, drew sharp criticism from the Opposition parties, which accused him of using labels to target dissent and suppress his political rivals that, they said, will pave the way for “a one-party rule and eventually dictatorship”. In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, his 13th consecutive address, Modi said while armed Naxalism was nearing its end in the jungles, their ideological sympathisers were seeking opportunities to create unrest in the country. He said while Maoists, who had killed more than 3,500 security personnel and left the land soaked in blood, are breathing its last after years of security operations against them, “we must not underestimate this challenge”.