BJP MP pillories ‘violent ideology’ of ‘dimagi Naxals’
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal has labeled certain intellectuals and activists as 'dimagi Naxals,' claiming they pose a significant threat to democratic institutions. The Congress party has condemned these remarks, characterizing them as an attempt to target and silence dissenting voices.
Why it matters
The rhetoric reflects an intensifying political debate in India regarding the definition of dissent and the role of intellectuals in a democratic society.
In a video he shared on Facebook on Monday (August 17, 2026), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal spoke of “ dimagi Naxals” (intellectual Naxals), a phrase used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently in his Independence Day address, describing them as individuals who posed a greater risk to India than left wing extremists in forested regions.
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