New Delhi, November 2026 : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday renewed his challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in a public debate over allegations that opposition leaders are 'Dimagi Naxals', anti-national and influenced by foreign forces.
In a post on X addressed to personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gandhi said his challenge to the Prime Minister remained open and called for a discussion on who was working against national interests and who was allegedly controlled by foreign entities.
"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 wrote.
He further claimed that the outcome of such a debate would leave the Prime Minister unable to face security personnel. The Congress leader's remarks came a day after Modi used the term 'Dimagi Naxals' while interacting with CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh.
During his interaction with security forces in Bastar on Sunday, on the occasion of Diwali, the Prime Minister said that eliminating armed Naxalism was not the end of the country's efforts against the ideology. He warned that those he described as 'Dimagi Naxals' continued to influence several organisations and were challenging the country's constitutional and democratic institutions.
"Even today, they are inciting people against the country's Constitution and democracy. These 'Dimagi Naxals' have also infiltrated several political parties and different organisations. We must identify them, defeat them and ensure the security of the nation," Modi said.
His remarks were seen as an indirect criticism of Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders who have questioned the functioning of institutions, including the Election Commission of India.
The Prime Minister also said that recent successes in the fight against Naxalism should be treated as a foundation for achieving larger national goals rather than the final destination.
"Today's achievements inspire us, but this is not the end of the journey -- I repeat, this is not the end," he said.
Modi linked the country's progress against Naxalism and poverty with the aspirations of freedom fighters, soldiers guarding India's borders and security personnel who had sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism and Left-Wing Extremism.
He expressed confidence that India could fulfil its development commitments, citing the abrogation of Article 370, the construction of household toilets and the expansion of the country's vaccination programme as examples of goals achieved through sustained government efforts.
The Prime Minister also reiterated his vision of eradicating poverty, building a drug-free India, achieving Viksit Bharat and strengthening Atmanirbhar Bharat.
"Therefore, today, as we speak of eradicating poverty, building a drug-free India, creating a Viksit Bharat and fostering an Atmanirbhar Bharat -- rest assured, the nation will achieve these goals as well," he said.
Gandhi's renewed challenge has brought the exchange between the ruling BJP and the Congress into focus, with the debate centring on the Prime Minister's 'Dimagi Naxal' remark and the opposition's criticism of the government's approach towards dissent and democratic institutions.
