PM Modi’s speech fumble, ‘dimaagi Naxal’ remark draw Opposition fire

Opposition leaders on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over an apparent stumble during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort and criticised several of the political remarks made in his speech.

Congress and Aam Aadmi Party leaders circulated a video clip in which Modi appeared to falter while discussing the expansion of India’s bioeconomy since the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. The Prime Minister briefly referred to his notes before continuing his address.

Sharing the clip-on social media, Congress leader Pawan Khera wrote, “Superhuman without teleprompter (Mahamanav bina teleprompter ke).”

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also posted the video and described Modi as an “under-confident, nervous and shaky Prime Minister”.

Modi’s address, which lasted approximately 75 minutes, was his shortest Independence Day speech in four years. It covered a wide range of subjects, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, Maoist violence, micro, small and medium enterprises, higher education and the coaching industry. His 2023 address had lasted about 90 minutes.

The Opposition’s criticism, however, was not limited to the Prime Minister’s delivery. The Congress strongly objected to his use of the expression “dimaagi Naxals”, or ideological Naxals.

Modi said armed Maoist violence was “breathing its last” but warned that an ideological Naxal mindset remained present in some institutions. He called for such elements to be identified and isolated, alleging that they could steer young people towards anarchy.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh dismissed the expression as another political label directed at the government’s opponents. He compared it with the BJP’s earlier use of the term “urban Naxal”, which, he said, had no formally stated definition.

“Two or three years ago, he called his political opponents ‘urban Naxals’. At that time, a question was raised in Parliament about its definition, and the Home Minister replied that there was no such thing as an ‘urban Naxal’ and no definition for it,” Ramesh said.

“Today, the Prime Minister is using the term ‘mental Naxal’ for his political opponents from the Red Fort,” he added.

Ramesh also accused the government of denouncing proposals raised by its critics before subsequently adopting them. Citing the caste census, he claimed that Modi had earlier dismissed the demand as “urban Naxal” thinking but later announced a caste-based enumeration.

“Even after 12 years, there was nothing new in his political speech,” the Congress leader said.

The party also criticised the Prime Minister’s remarks on women’s reservation and delimitation, describing his position as a “dishonest pitch”.

Ramesh said Parliament had unanimously passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in September 2023 but accused the government of structuring its implementation in a manner that prevented the reservation provisions from taking effect during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He further alleged that the legislation was notified “hastily and silently” on April 16, 2026.

The Congress leader also credited former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and his party with establishing the foundations for greater political representation of women through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.