BJP MP Brij Lal echoes Modi's 'intellectual Naxal' remark; Congress warns of authoritarian crackdown

Published Aug 17, 04:39 PM UTC

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal, a former IPS officer, released a video on August 17, 2026, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent 'dimagi Naxal' (intellectual Naxal) remark. Lal described these individuals as professors, teachers, NGO leaders, and writers who pose a greater danger than armed left-wing extremists by undermining confidence in India's democratic institutions. The Congress party reacted sharply, accusing the BJP of targeting intellectuals, academicians, journalists, and writers who advocate for logic, reasoning, and democratic values. Congress national secretary Shahnawaz Alam called it a dangerous sign for the country. PM Modi had first used the term in his Independence Day speech on August 15, calling for such individuals to be 'identified and isolated'.