Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday triggered a political row, with opposition leaders targeting both his delivery and several remarks made during the speech.
The controversy began after Modi appeared to fumble while speaking about India’s progress in the bioeconomy since the BJP came to power in 2014. Congress and AAP leaders shared a clip of the moment on social media and criticised the Prime Minister’s delivery.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Congress leader Pawan Khera shared the video and wrote, “Superhuman without teleprompter (Mahamanav bina teleprompter ke).” AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also shared the clip, describing Modi as “An under-confident, nervous and shaky Prime Minister.”
The criticism came after Modi delivered his shortest Independence Day address in four years, lasting around 75 minutes. His speech covered several subjects, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, Naxalism, MSMEs, higher education and coaching classes.
However, the opposition’s attack went beyond the speech fumble. Congress leaders strongly objected to Modi’s reference to “dimaagi Naxals”, which he used while discussing what he described as an ideological Naxal mindset.
Modi said that armed Maoist violence was “breathing its last”, but argued that an ideological Naxal mindset continued to exist in some institutions. He called on people and authorities to “identify and isolate” those he described as “dimaagi Naxals”, saying such forces could push young people towards anarchy.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh dismissed the terminology as political rhetoric and compared it with the BJP government’s earlier use of the phrase “urban Naxal”. Ramesh recalled that questions had previously been raised in Parliament over the definition of “Urban Naxal”.
“Two or three years ago, he (PM Modi) called his political opponents ‘Urban Naxals’,” Ramesh said, adding that the Home Minister had stated that there was no such thing as an “Urban Naxal” and no definition for the term. He accused Modi of now using “Mental Naxal” for political opponents from the Red Fort.
Ramesh also criticised the government over issues such as the caste census and women’s reservation. He alleged that the government had previously dismissed demands for a caste census before later announcing one.
The Congress further accused the government of making a “dishonest pitch” over women’s reservation and questioned the delay in implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Ramesh said Parliament had unanimously passed the legislation in September 2023 but alleged that its implementation was delayed.
The opposition’s reaction has therefore shifted attention from the substance of Modi’s Independence Day address to his delivery and political messaging, particularly his “dimaagi Naxals” remark and comments on women’s representation.
