Overview
- On Monday in Bastar Prime Minister Narendra Modi told CRPF personnel that while armed Maoists had been eliminated, ideological supporters he called “dimagi Naxals” had infiltrated organisations and political parties and were working against the Constitution.
- Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi responded by renewing an open debate challenge, saying the CRPF personnel did not accept the prime minister’s claim and urging Modi to debate who is ‘anti‑national’ or influenced by foreign forces.
- Opposition figures accused Modi of politicising a solemn military occasion and warned that calling rivals 'dimagi Naxals' risks instructing security forces to target dissent, with critics pointing to the prime minister wearing fatigues during the address.
- The BJP and the CRPF defended the remarks by pointing to recent counter‑Naxal gains, including a reported zero operational deaths in the first six months of 2026, and BJP spokespeople pressed counter‑allegations about Congress’ foreign contacts.
- The row is escalating on social media and in political statements with no public debate scheduled, and it raises broader questions about norms that separate political rhetoric from security institutions after the government declared Naxalism largely eliminated earlier this year.