From Reds to NGOs: RSS weekly expands ‘dimagi Naxal’ label

NEW DELHI: The RSS has joined the campaign against “dimagi Naxals” which PM Modi launched on Aug 15, with its affiliated weekly ‘Organiser’ arguing that the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) under UPA allowed Maoist-influenced thinking to enter policymaking.In an editorial, ‘Organiser’ termed NAC as marking the “classic takeover of the ‘dimagi Naxals’ of governance”. It said, “As the armed rebellion has failed miserably, the dimagi variant has taken charge.” The editorial added penetrating bureaucracy, policy machinery, legal system, academia, media and NGOs formed part of this “revolutionary strategy”.The weekly stopped short of accusing Sonia or Congress brass of links with Maoists, directing its criticism at NAC and the ideological influence the body brought into governance.It distinguishes “dimagi Naxals” from ordinary agitators or reform groups, acknowledging issues such as education and climate change can be genuine while alleging such concerns may be appropriated by an ideological core.