'Dimagi Naxal' latest in PM's vocabulary, says RJD's Manoj Jha; Jharkhand Cong calls it a diversion from youth issues
RJD MP Manoj Jha on Saturday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'dimagi Naxal' phrase in his Independence Day speech, saying he had contributed to the nation's political vocabulary with terms such as 'andolanjeevi' and 'urban Naxals'.
"I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for adding a new term each year to the vocabulary. Once, he coined 'andolanjeevi' and then 'urban Naxal'," the RJD MP told PTI Videos. "I once asked in Parliament what urban Naxal means. I was told there was no definition of urban Naxal. Now this phrase ('dimagi Naxal') has emerged," Jha said.
Janashakti Janata Dal founder Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD president Lalu Prasad, said the PM is better positioned to clarify "who a dimagi Naxal is and who is not". "The PM should travel across the country and identify dimagi Naxals. Who knows, he might find the largest number of dimagi Naxals within the BJP itself," Yadav said.
The Congress in Jharkhand too criticised Modi for the "dimaagi Naxal" remark, alleging that the term was coined to divert people's attention from the issues of the youth, who have been agitating in several states for their rights. "Students and youths were pinning hopes that the Prime Minister would talk about their future, improvements to the education system, and employment opportunities. But our PM is a master of diverting issues by coining new words," Jharkhand Congress chief spokesperson Lal Kishor Nath Shahdeo said, referring to recent agitations over NEET paper leaks in Delhi and over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand, where students have been protesting for over three weeks.
Shahdeo said the Congress has favoured 33 per cent reservation for women, but it has now been made a "tool to gain political mileage".
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan, however, supported the PM, saying that those who intend to spread anarchy and seek to disrupt India's progress need to be identified. "There is a need to identify people who are moving forward with the intent to spread anarchy and disrupt India's progress path," Paswan said.
In his Independence Day speech, Modi warned the country about "dimagi Naxals" who have allegedly entrenched themselves in the system and continue to pose a threat to society by manipulating policies, urging citizens to "identify and isolate" them. He also urged political parties to rise above differences to help secure 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and called upon the youth to take the lead in building a developed India.
(With inputs from PTI)
