NEW DELHI, Nov 9: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an open debate after the Prime Minister referred to “Dimagi Naxals” while addressing CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar. Gandhi said the debate should determine who was anti-national and who was controlled by foreign forces.

Gandhi made the remarks in a social media post addressed to CRPF personnel, a day after Modi said armed Maoists had been eliminated but people with a Naxal mindset had entered political parties and organisations and were instigating people against the Constitution and democracy.

At a glance

  • Gandhi said his challenge to Modi for a public debate remained open.
  • He said the debate could be held at any time and place.
  • Modi made the remarks while spending Diwali with security personnel at a CRPF camp in Bastar.
  • Opposition parties have criticised the use of the term “Dimagi Naxal”, alleging that it stigmatises democratic dissent.

What happened

In his post, Gandhi said the expressions of CRPF personnel showed that they had not accepted the Prime Minister’s claims. He said Modi had called the Opposition “Naxals” and repeated his offer to debate him publicly.

Gandhi sought a discussion on allegations of anti-national conduct and foreign influence. He said he was ready for the debate at a venue and time of Modi’s choice.

Addressing security personnel in Bastar on Sunday, Modi said the country had eliminated armed Maoists. He alleged that “Dimagi Naxals” had infiltrated several political parties and organisations.

Such elements, he said, were seeking to instigate people against the Constitution and the democratic system. Modi said they must be identified and defeated to secure the country.

Who said what

“Dear @crpfindia, your faces said it all: you didn’t buy the PM’s lies,” Gandhi said in his post. “He called us Naxals. My challenge stands.”

“Let him debate me on who is anti-national and who is controlled by foreign forces. Any time, any place,” Gandhi said. He claimed that after such a debate, Modi would not have the courage to face even a single jawan.

Modi said ideological supporters of Naxalism were trying to create opportunities for violence and were working against constitutional and democratic values.

The Congress alleged that Modi was distressed and desperate, and said his “jhola-picking-up time” was approaching.

BJP leaders had dismissed Gandhi’s earlier debate challenge, alleging that he avoided debates in Parliament. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Parliament already provided a forum for such a debate and asked Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, to show seriousness and responsibility.

Background

Modi had used the expression “Dimagi Naxals”, or people with a Naxal mindset, in his Independence Day address in August. He had then said that while the country had succeeded in removing armed Naxalism, its ideological supporters were seeking opportunities to promote violence.

Gandhi, a former Congress president, has repeatedly challenged Modi to debate him publicly. On earlier occasions, he claimed that a debate would establish within five minutes that the Prime Minister was a “traitor”.

Why it matters for Assam and the Northeast

The exchange reflected the wider political dispute over Maoism, democratic dissent and the use of the term “Dimagi Naxal”. It also underscored the sharp rhetoric between the ruling BJP and the Congress on issues of national security and constitutional values.

Although the latest remarks were made in Chhattisgarh, the debate has resonance beyond the state because it concerns the language used to describe political opposition and ideological dissent.

What next

Gandhi did not announce a date for the proposed debate. He said it could be held at any time and place.

There was no immediate response from the Prime Minister’s Office to Gandhi’s latest challenge. The BJP has maintained that Parliament is the appropriate forum for debate.