‘Attempt to stigmatise dissent’: Opposition hits out at PM Modi over ‘dimagi Naxal’ jibe
Opposition parties on Saturday (August 15, 2026) hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “dimagi Naxals”, saying he should not have used his Independence Day speech for politics, and claimed his pitch on 33% women’s reservation in legislatures displayed the ruling BJP’s “hypocrisy” after not implementing the quota in the 2024 general elections.
Senior BJP leaders, however, hailed the Prime Minister’s speech as a road map for achieving the goal of a developed nation, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah terming it a resolve for indigenous development, prosperity and self-reliance.
BJP chief Nitin Nabin said the “Saptdhara” (seven streams of strength) listed by Mr. Modi will become new foundations of India’s development journey. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Prime Minister’s resolve “is firm and clear: reform with conviction, empower the youth, strengthen our nation and make India a global powerhouse”.
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In his 13th consecutive address on the 80th Independence Day, the Prime Minister urged political parties to rise above differences to help secure 33% reservation for women in legislatures, called upon the youth to take the lead in building a developed India and warned against being misled by “dimaagi Naxals”.
The day also saw a row over leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha—Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge—not attending the official Independence Day event at the Red Fort. The BJP also attacked the Congress over its former president Sonia Gandhi’s alleged objection to the full rendition of “Vande Mataram” during the Independence Day event at the Congress office.
Independence Day 2026: PM Modi leads India in commemorating 80 years of freedom | In Photos
Young artistes dressed in traditional attire take part in a cultural performance during the Independence Day celebrations at the Police Barracks in Visakhapatnam on August 15
Young artistes dressed in traditional attire take part in a cultural performance during the Independence Day celebrations at the Police Barracks in Visakhapatnam on August 15.
Patriotic spirits soar as locals gather to hoist the National Flag in front of the historic Charminar monument in Hyderabad, marking India’s milestone 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
PM Modi inspects the Guard of Honour at the Red Fort during the 80th Independence Day celebration, in New Delhi on August 15, 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day.
Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters conducted a flower-petal shower over the venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on the 80th Independence Day, said sectors that were once seen as “no-go” areas are now “go-ahead” areas.
India is going to host 2030 CWG; we want to host 2036 Olympics, Mr. Modi said. Before the 2036 Olympics, we need to expand into sporting disciplines in which we never used to qualify earlier, he added.
“Coaching classes burden on poor, middle class; we will provide free online coaching for various exams,” Prime Minister Modi said in his I-Day speech.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with the youth gathered at the Red Fort. Mr. Modi, In his 13th consecutive Independence Day address to the nation, assured the youth of resources and support, as he highlighted the growth of India’s startup ecosystem and the government’s ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund to support ideas and capabilities.
For the first time, the National Song Vande Mataram was rendered during Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort on August 15, 2026.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hoists the tricolour flag at the AICC HQ, Indira Bhawan, in New Delhi. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and former president of the AICC Sonia Gandhi are also seen.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during the 80th Independence Day celebration at Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi. The event featured parades and patriotic performances by schoolchildren and NCC cadets.
A young child sprints through Mumbai with the Tricolour held high, radiating pure joy during the Independence Day celebrations.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on August 15, 2026, assured cooperation to the Union government on administrative matters and asserted that, however, his government will always oppose policies going against the State’s rights.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan hoisted the national flag at the Independence Day celebrations held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Satheesan reviewed the various platoons and received the salute from marching contingents of the police, NCC, NSS, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Student Police Cadets.
Students perform a vibrant cultural programme during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu addresses the gathering after hoisting the national flag during the Independence Day celebrations in Amaravati.
Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan inspects the ceremonial parade during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the District Police Grounds in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Kalyan asked the youth to think before believing something, question before following, and inquire before taking a decision.
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy salutes the national flag after hoisting it and inspecting the Guard of Honour by the territorial police, at Gandhi Thidal on Beach Road. The Chief Minister said his government was according priority to protection and security of women and children in the Union Territory.
Schoolchildren perform a cultural programme during the Independence Day celebrations held at VOC Stadium in Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
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On the other hand, the Congress took a swipe at Mr. Modi over the sequencing of his tri-coloured pocket squares, saying it seems he is celebrating the Independence Day of Ireland instead of India’s.
“Sign of desperation”
Attacking the Prime Minister for his “dimaagi Naxal” remark, leaders of several Opposition parties said it was intended to stigmatise his opponents and those questioning the government, with the Congress terming it a “sure sign of desperation”.
Congress president Mr. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister was claiming credit for all that the Congress has done and warned that “he may bring the national flag down one day”. He also accused the Prime Minister of speaking lies from the Red Fort, as he targeted him on the issues of Ram temple donations “theft” and police action against students.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister first attacked his opponents as “urban Naxals” and is now calling them “dimaagi Naxals”.
Communist Party of India General Secretary D. Raja addressing a press conference at Ajoy Bhawan in New Delhi. File
| Photo Credit:
Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
“First he called his opponents ‘urban naxals’. Now he calls them ‘dimaagi naxals’. It is a sure sign of his desperation. It is a separate matter that he ends up doing whatever these so-called ‘urban naxals’ or now ‘dimaagi naxals’ are demanding or advocating. It is not for nothing that the PM has an MA being the ‘Master Abuser’ in Entire Political Science that he is,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
He also alleged that the Prime Minister made a “dishonest” pitch on women reservation in his address at Red Fort, saying ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ was unanimously passed in September 2023, but the BJP government’s “double-faced hypocrisy” made sure it wouldn’t come into effect from the 2024 elections.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said the Red Fort is not the place from where one should speak lies, and urged the Centre to implement the Women Reservation Bill in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
CPI(M) General Secretary M. A. Baby said, “They always wanted to accuse people in the Opposition that they are anti-national. This is a very convenient accusation that they are Maoist in their mind. It is an atrocious allegation.” On women’s reservation, he said all political parties should press the government to implement the quota in the existing seats, instead of linking it to delimitation.
CPI general secretary D. Raja said Mr. Modi had chosen to target dissenters even on Independence Day.
“Prime Minister Modi finds time and opportunity to target dissenters even on a solemn national occasion like Independence Day, conveniently forgetting what the people of India are asking of him and his government,” Mr. Raja said.
“This is nothing but an attempt to stigmatise dissent and intimidate those who question the government,” he said, asking Mr. Modi to answer questions by students and young people on education and employment.
CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar said the government had no justification for holding back the women’s quota when all parties supported the legislation.
TMC leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale also attacked Mr. Modi, accusing him of using the Independence Day platform to target his critics.
Saket Gokhale addresses the media. File
| Photo Credit:
Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
“Usual nonsense”
“Instead of apologising to the youth for using violence and pellet guns on them, Mr. Modi is peddling his usual nonsense. Dump the ego, Mr. PM. It’s not helping,” he said.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, formally the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed by Parliament in September 2023 and became the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act after receiving presidential assent. It provides for reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, State legislative Assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women.
Also read: Independence Day 2026: How protest, community and tea are bringing people together
The provision has become a point of contention between the government and the Opposition, with the Opposition parties demanding that the quota be implemented without waiting for delimitation.
The 131st Constitution Amendment Bill that proposed to increase the Lok Sabha seats to 816 to “operationalise” the women’s reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census, was defeated in the Lok Sabha after the Congress and its allies opposed it.
Published – August 15, 2026 05:06 pm IST
Source: www.thehindu.com