"P Chidambaram is not a 'dimaagi Naxal' but a pure Naxal": Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma demands probe into former Home Minister's tenure

The remark came after Sarma responded to Chidambaram's social media post stating he was "proud to be a dimaagi Naxal".

Calling out Chidambaram's self-description, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing a press conference, elevated the political confrontation, asserting that Chidambaram's admission reveals deeper ideological ties.

"P Chidambaram is not a 'dimaagi Naxal' but a pure Naxal. Now that P Chidambaram, who was the country's Home Minister, has called himself a 'dimaagi Naxal', an inquiry should be held to probe whether he deliberately did not take action to end Naxalism during his tenure as the country's Home Minister."

The political row stems from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort. During his speech, PM Modi stated that while armed Naxalism in rural forests had been largely dismantled, a new challenge, "dimaagi Naxals" (ideological Naxals), had entrenched themselves within institutions, policy-making spaces, and public ecosystems to subvert national progress.

PM Modi urged citizens to identify and isolate individuals harbouring such anti-systemic mindsets.

"For years, people with Maoist thinking were there in public life; even in government committees, this thinking had affected various institutions and initiatives. My dear countrymen, we have been able to curb and free the country from 'hathariya naxal' (armed naxal). Even if these naxals are gone, the 'dimagi naxal' (people with naxal thinking), are looking for an opportunity, looking to see ways of violence, and trying to drag the country to a wrong path. We need to identify these dimagi naxal, isolate them, and bring the youth together for a developed country," PM Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Hitting back at the Prime Minister's remarks, P Chidambaram, in an X post, expressed his disagreement, posting:"I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!"

Meanwhile, CM Sarma also targeted the Congress leadership. "Be it Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, they have taken up the mission to go against the country. They have resolved to spoil the atmosphere in the country," he said.

Referring to an incident during the recitation of Vande Mataram, the Assam CM added, "Sonia Gandhi's behaviour during the recitation of Vande Mataram makes it clear what will happen to the country if Congress comes to power. These people are openly doing anti-national activities like inciting people to protest and asking them to create an atmosphere of anarchy in the country."

However, the Congress asserted that Sonia Gandhi's actions had nothing to do with the national song played at the venue. The party maintained that she was merely trying to ensure that the correct arrangements for Vande Mataram were sung properly in the event.

The controversy erupted after visuals from the Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters showed senior party leaders speaking among themselves while 'Vande Mataram' was being recited. BJP leaders have criticised their conduct, alleging that it amounted to disrespect towards the National Song. (ANI)