During his Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced criticism from opposition leaders. Both Congress and AAP representatives highlighted a moment where Modi appeared to struggle with his delivery. They shared clips of the address, questioning his performance and raising concerns about his communication skills.
“He had dismissed the idea of a caste census as ‘Urban Naxal’ thinking, yet a year ago, he announced a caste-based census. Ramesh also accused the government of first attacking critics for raising certain issues and later adopting the same demands.
“Even after 12 years, there was nothing new in his political speech,” the Congress leader said.
Today, the Prime Minister is using the term ‘Mental Naxal’ (ideological Naxal) for his political opponents from the Red Fort,” Jairam Ramesh said. “Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents ‘Urban Naxals’; at that time, the question arose in Parliament as to what the definition of ‘Urban Naxal’ was. The Home Minister replied that there is no such thing as an ‘Urban Naxal,’ nor is there any definition for it. He further credited the Congress and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi with laying the groundwork for women’s political representation through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
Ramesh said the Parliament had unanimously passed the women’s reservation law in September 2023, but alleged that the Modi government deliberately delayed its implementation.
Earlier reporting noted: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Saturday, warned of a new enemy: “Dimaagi Naxal”. Earlier reporting noted: The Prime Minister did not elaborate on the phrase, but cautioned that such “Dimaagi Naxals need to be identified and isolated”. Earlier reporting noted: “Armed Naxals are gone, but ‘intellectual Naxals’ still lurking; we must be vigilant,” PM Modi said, addressing the nation on India’s 80th Independence Day.
The speech, however, touched on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, Naxalism, MSMEs, higher education and coaching classes. The Opposition’s remarks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his shortest Independence Day address in four years, lasting around 75 minutes. In 2023, Modi had addressed the nation for around 90 minutes.
The Opposition’s criticism extended beyond the Prime Minister’s delivery, with the Congress taking particular exception to his remarks on “dimagi Naxals” or ideological Naxals.
