IndiaPosted at: Nov 8 2026 7:16PM


Jairam Ramesh accuses Modi of using Diwali address to target political rivals

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) The Congress on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using his Diwali visit to security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, to launch a political attack on his opponents, with party general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleging that the Prime Minister had turned a solemn national occasion into an opportunity to hurl insults at political rivals.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s remarks in a post on social media platform X, Ramesh said Modi had not spared the country even on Diwali from what he described as his trademark abusive language.
“The Prime Minister has not spared the nation even on Diwali day his trademark abuse,” Ramesh said, taking particular exception to the Prime Minister’s use of the expression “dimagi naxals” (intellectual Naxals).
Ramesh alleged that Modi had used the solemn occasion of celebrating Diwali with security personnel, while wearing their uniform, to target his political opponents.
He described the remarks as a “brazen assault on all institutional norms”, adding sarcastically,
“But when has that ever stopped this man?”
Seeking to establish what he portrayed as a pattern in the Prime Minister’s political rhetoric, the Congress leader recalled two earlier occasions when Modi had allegedly labelled groups opposing government policies with Naxal-related terminology, only to subsequently accept some of the demands or reverse the policies concerned.
Ramesh referred first to April 28, 2024, when Modi had reportedly described those demanding a caste census as “urban Naxals”.
He pointed out that on April 30, 2025, the Prime Minister announced that a caste census would be conducted as part of Census 2027.
He also recalled the controversy surrounding the three farm laws, saying that in September 2020 Modi had described those protesting against the legislation as supporters of a Naxal ideology. On November 19, 2021, the Prime Minister announced the withdrawal of the three contentious agricultural laws following a year-long agitation by farmers, particularly in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The Congress has repeatedly accused the BJP-led government of using politically charged labels to delegitimise dissent and opposition to its policies.
The BJP, however, has maintained that its criticism of certain protest movements and ideological tendencies is rooted in concerns over their political character and national security implications.
Drawing a political conclusion from the two episodes, Ramesh suggested that the Prime Minister's latest remarks reflected political anxiety and desperation. “The PM is clearly distraught, disturbed and desperate,” he said, ending his post with a pointed political jibe: “Jhola-picking-up time is fast approaching.”
The reference was an apparent allusion to Modi's earlier remark that he would leave with his belongings in a jhola (shoulder bag) if he ever felt that he was no longer needed in public life.
The sharp attack came as Modi celebrated Diwali with security personnel in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, paying tribute to their sacrifices, commitment and service to the nation. His visit to the region, which has witnessed decades of Maoist insurgency, was also intended to underline the government's emphasis on security, development and the elimination of Left-Wing Extremism.
The Congress's criticism has added a political dimension to the Prime Minister's Diwali engagement with the security forces, with Ramesh questioning the propriety of using a national occasion and a uniform associated with the country's security establishment to deliver politically charged remarks.
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