Opposition leaders on Saturday (August 15, 2026) hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “dimagi Naxals” reference in his Independence Day address, accusing him of using labels to target dissent, while also tearing into his appeal to parties to implement women’s reservation and questioning the linking of it with delimitation.
CPI(M) General Secretary M. A. Baby stated that while his party opposes Maoism, they accuse the government of violating the law and the Constitution in its handling of Maoists. He described the Prime Minister’s reference to individuals with a “Naxal mentality” as an attempt to target the Opposition.
Also read: Independence Day LIVE updates
“Naxalism is a political perspective and approach with which we all fully disagree. We don’t support the modus operandi of Maoists or Naxals. They take up arms and don’t participate in general democratic political activity,” Mr. Baby told PTI Videos.
“But now, his narrative is that urban Naxals are there; now he says ‘people with Naxal mentality’… They always want to accuse people in opposition that they are anti-national, and to go to Pakistan. This is a very convenient accusation that they are Maoist in their mind. It is an atrocious allegation,” he said.
Mr. Baby also accused the Modi government of engaging in “State terrorism” regarding its treatment of arrested Maoists, alleging that some individuals were shot dead in custody rather than being subjected to legal proceedings.
On the topic of women’s reservation, he urged all political parties to press the government to implement the quota for women in existing seats instead of linking it to delimitation.
Independence Day 2026: PM Modi leads India in commemorating 80 years of freedom | In Photos
Patriotic spirits soar as locals gather to hoist the National Flag in front of the historic Charminar monument in Hyderabad, marking India’s milestone 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
PM Modi inspects the Guard of Honour at the Red Fort during the 80th Independence Day celebration, in New Delhi on August 15, 2026.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day.
Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters conducted a flower-petal shower over the venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation on the 80th Independence Day, said sectors that were once seen as “no-go” areas are now “go-ahead” areas.
India is going to host 2030 CWG; we want to host 2036 Olympics, Mr. Modi said. Before the 2036 Olympics, we need to expand into sporting disciplines in which we never used to qualify earlier, he added.
“Coaching classes burden on poor, middle class; we will provide free online coaching for various exams,” Prime Minister Modi said in his I-Day speech.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with the youth gathered at the Red Fort. Mr. Modi, In his 13th consecutive Independence Day address to the nation, assured the youth of resources and support, as he highlighted the growth of India’s startup ecosystem and the government’s ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund to support ideas and capabilities.
For the first time, the National Song Vande Mataram was rendered during Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort on August 15, 2026.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hoists the tricolour flag at the AICC HQ, Indira Bhawan, in New Delhi. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and former president of the AICC Sonia Gandhi are also seen.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during the 80th Independence Day celebration at Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi. The event featured parades and patriotic performances by schoolchildren and NCC cadets.
A young child sprints through Mumbai with the Tricolour held high, radiating pure joy during the Independence Day celebrations.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on August 15, 2026, assured cooperation to the Union government on administrative matters and asserted that, however, his government will always oppose policies going against the State’s rights.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan hoisted the national flag at the Independence Day celebrations held at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Satheesan reviewed the various platoons and received the salute from marching contingents of the police, NCC, NSS, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Student Police Cadets.
Students perform a vibrant cultural programme during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Salem, Tamil Nadu.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu addresses the gathering after hoisting the national flag during the Independence Day celebrations in Amaravati.
Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan inspects the ceremonial parade during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the District Police Grounds in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Kalyan asked the youth to think before believing something, question before following, and inquire before taking a decision.
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy salutes the national flag after hoisting it and inspecting the Guard of Honour by the territorial police, at Gandhi Thidal on Beach Road. The Chief Minister said his government was according priority to protection and security of women and children in the Union Territory.
Schoolchildren perform a cultural programme during the Independence Day celebrations held at VOC Stadium in Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel showcase dogs’ talents as part of the Independence Day Celebrations at RRC grounds in Secunderabad, Telangana.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar takes part in the 80th Independence Day celebration programme at the Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru, Karnataka on August 15, 2026.
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“All political parties would like to appeal to the prime minister to stop double standards regarding women’s reservation. We are for reservation for women in existing seats. He is linking delimitation and women’s reservation. Bring it separately; we will show support,” he said.
CPI criticises PM Modi
Communist Party of India General Secretary D. Raja addressing a press conference at Ajoy Bhawan in New Delhi. File
| Photo Credit:
Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
CPI general secretary D. Raja accused Mr. Modi of targeting dissenters even on Independence Day, describing the term “dimagi Naxal” as another way to stigmatise those who question the government.
“Prime Minister Modi finds time and opportunity to target dissenters even on a solemn national occasion like Independence Day, conveniently forgetting what the people of India are asking of him and his government,” Mr. Raja said.
“To the baseless categories repeatedly conjured up by the Right Wing: ‘anti-national’, ‘tukde-tukde gang’ and others, Modi has now added another absurd label: ‘dimagi naxal’. This is nothing but an attempt to stigmatise dissent and intimidate those who question the government,” he said.
Mr. Raja urged the Prime Minister to address the concerns raised by students and young people regarding education and employment.
“India’s youth and students are on the streets demanding educational and employment reforms. Did you answer their questions? Why have nearly a lakh government schools been closed? Why has public education been allowed to deteriorate so badly? Why are millions of young people struggling for secure employment?” he asked.
CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar asserted that the government has no justification for delaying the women’s quota when all parties support the legislation.
“All parties are supporting the bill, so what prevents the prime minister and his colleagues from implementing reservation for women? The answer is very simple. Our position was very clear: out of the 543 seats, 181 seats must be reserved for women, without any delay,” Mr. Kumar said.
He alleged that the BJP deliberately linked women’s reservation with delimitation, asserting that the quota should be implemented independently and without waiting for the exercise.
“If these people are serious, and if this is not merely rhetoric, they should implement one-third reservation for women as early as possible,” he said.
TMC slams PM Modi
Saket Gokhale addresses the media. File
| Photo Credit:
Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
TMC leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale also attacked Mr. Modi’s remarks, accusing him of using the Independence Day platform to target his critics.
“Shame that Modi used the occasion of Independence Day to take cheap shots calling his opponents ‘Dimaagi (Mental) Naxals’,” Mr. Gokhale said in a post on X.
“Instead of apologising to the youth for using violence and pellet guns on them, Modi is peddling his usual nonsense. Dump the ego, Mr PM. It’s not helping,” he said.
TMC Lok Sabha MP leader Kirti Azad criticised Mr. Modi over what he described as unfulfilled promises made in successive Independence Day addresses, citing prices, unemployment and inflation.
“Over the past 12 years, people have listened with great expectations every time the Prime Minister delivered his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. But none of those promises have been fulfilled,” Mr. Azad said.
Also read: Independence Day 2026: How protest, community and tea are bringing people together
The opposition leaders’ remarks came after Mr. Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, said Maoist extremism was “breathing its last” and called for identifying and isolating “dimagi Naxals”.
Mr. Modi said armed Maoism had destroyed the future of several youths and alleged that people with a “Naxal mentality” had earlier occupied positions of influence in government committees and policymaking.
He also appealed to political parties to come forward to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, saying the issue had remained caught in politics for 40 years.
The Women’s Reservation Bill, formally the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed by Parliament in September 2023 and became the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act after receiving presidential assent. It provides for reserving one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women.
The law, however, provides that the reservation will take effect after a delimitation exercise following the publication of the first census figures after its commencement.
The provision has become a point of contention between the government and the opposition, with opposition parties demanding that the quota be implemented without waiting for delimitation.
Published – August 15, 2026 05:06 pm IST
