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Opposition Criticises PM Modi Over ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark and Women’s Quota Pitch

Opposition political parties strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his 80th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, condemning his reference to “dimaagi Naxals” and accusing the government of hypocrisy regarding women’s reservation in legislatures. While senior ruling party ministers hailed the speech as a blueprint for national development, opposition leaders argued that the national platform was used to target critics and suppress dissent.

What Happened

Delivering his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on matters ranging from youth empowerment and free online test coaching to sports initiatives and national security. During his remarks, he urged political parties to unite on the 33% legislative reservation for women and cautioned the public against being misled by “dimaagi Naxals”.

The remarks triggered swift criticism from across opposition parties. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Prime Minister of taking credit for past achievements and making misleading statements from the Red Fort. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh labelled the comments a sign of desperation, alleging that the term followed the earlier use of “urban Naxals” to stigmatise critics. Leaders from the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], the Samajwadi Party, and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) also voiced strong objections, arguing that the occasion of Independence Day should not have been used to attack political opponents.

Key Highlights

  • Controversy Over Terminology: Opposition leaders, including CPI General Secretary D. Raja and CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby, stated that calling critics “dimaagi Naxals” was an effort to intimidate dissenters and frame opposition voices as anti-national.
  • Debate on Women’s Reservation: Opposition parties questioned the delay in implementing the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, originally passed in September 2023. Jairam Ramesh and CPI MP P. Sandosh Kumar questioned why the quota was not enacted for the 2024 general elections, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called for its rollout in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
  • Ruling Party Defense: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders praised the Prime Minister’s speech. Union Home Minister Amit Shah described it as a commitment to self-reliance and indigenous development, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commended the focus on youth empowerment and governance reforms.
  • Official Event Absences: The day witnessed additional political friction as Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi did not attend the official celebration at the Red Fort, holding an event at the AICC headquarters instead.
  • Policy and National Announcements: The Prime Minister’s address outlined plans for free online coaching for poor and middle-class students, highlighted the ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, and referenced India’s aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games.

Why This Matters

The exchanges reflect persistent legislative and political disagreements regarding democratic dissent and electoral reforms. The timeline for implementing the 33% reservation for women remains a central point of contention, particularly after the defeat of the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, which had proposed increasing parliamentary seats to 816 through a delimitation process based on the 2011 Census to operationalise the quota.

What to Watch Next

Key political developments will centre on discussions regarding the operationalisation of the women’s reservation quota ahead of upcoming state elections, including calls from regional leaders to apply the reservation in upcoming polls without linking it to future delimitation exercises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the controversy regarding the Prime Minister’s speech?

Opposition parties criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using the phrase “dimaagi Naxals”, asserting that it was an attempt to malign critics and political dissenters during an official national address.

What is the status of the Women’s Reservation Act?

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill was approved by Parliament in September 2023 and became the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act following presidential assent. However, differences persist between the government and opposition over whether the quota requires delimitation before taking effect.

Source: The Hindu