Rijiju targets Sibal, Chidambaram over 'Dimagi Naxal' remark
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, replying to PM Modi on X, demanded P. Chidambaram clarify his stance on a disputed statement and accused Kapil Sibal of defending 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' members, invoking the #DimagiNaxal hashtag in a sharp BJP-Congress exchange.
Key Takeaways
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X on Monday, 17 August 2026 , replying to a post by PM Narendra Modi .
Rijiju called out Kapil Sibal for allegedly trying to defend a person he described as a 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' member.
He demanded former Union Home Minister P.
Chidambaram publicly clarify whether he supports the statement in question.
Rijiju argued that Dimagi Naxal (intellectual Naxal) status 'can be proven by a person's actions and expressions.' The post was tagged #DimagiNaxal and forms part of a sustained BJP rhetorical campaign linking Congress figures to perceived anti-national positions.
A sharp political volley landed on Monday morning when Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called out senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and P. Chidambaram over what he labelled support for a 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' member, demanding the former Home Minister publicly clarify his position on a contested statement.
Rijiju, replying to a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wrote: 'Besides Kapil Sibal and Company who are trying to save this person and his Tukde-Tukde Gang members, P. Chidambaram should clarify if he too supports this statement. Dimagi Naxal can be proven by a person's actions and expressions.' He accompanied the post with the hashtag #DimagiNaxal.
The 'Dimagi Naxal' charge and what it signals
The term Dimagi Naxal — loosely translated as 'intellectual Naxal' or 'urban Naxal' — has become a recurring instrument in BJP rhetoric, used to describe individuals accused of providing ideological cover or legal support to left-wing extremist networks without direct armed involvement. Rijiju's post makes explicit that he considers public statements and legal representation sufficient evidence of such alignment. By naming Kapil Sibal specifically — a prominent lawyer who has appeared in several high-profile constitutional cases — Rijiju frames professional legal defence as political complicity. The move escalates the exchange beyond a Twitter spat into a demand for a formal public position from P. Chidambaram, a former Union Home Minister whose past stewardship of internal security policy makes the question politically loaded.BJP vs Congress: a recurring flashpoint
The 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' label has been a consistent feature of BJP political messaging since at least 2016, originating from protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and subsequently applied broadly to critics the party accuses of anti-national sentiment. Congress leaders have consistently rejected the framing as an attempt to criminalise dissent and delegitimise legal advocacy. Rijiju's tagging of the Prime Minister's original post signals that this exchange carries top-level political endorsement — it is not a solo freelance attack but a coordinated amplification of a BJP narrative. Whether Chidambaram or Sibal respond publicly will determine whether this stays a social-media skirmish or spills into parliamentary debate. The next move belongs to the Congress benches — and their silence or response will be read as a political signal either way.Point of View
Now directed at two of Congress's most legally credentialed figures. By demanding Chidambaram take a public position, the BJP is attempting to force a binary: either the opposition distances itself from a contested statement, or its silence becomes the story. The move also signals that the BJP intends to keep internal-security framing active in political discourse well beyond election cycles, using social media exchanges anchored to the Prime Minister's own posts to maximise reach and authority.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Dimagi Naxal' and why is Rijiju using the term?
'Dimagi Naxal' or 'intellectual Naxal' is a term used by BJP leaders to describe individuals accused of providing ideological or legal support to Naxalite networks without direct armed involvement. Rijiju used it to argue that statements and actions alone can establish such an alignment.
Why did Rijiju call out Kapil Sibal specifically?
Rijiju accused Kapil Sibal and associates of trying to legally defend a person he described as a 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' member, framing that legal representation as political complicity.
What is the 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' that Rijiju referenced?
'Tukde-Tukde Gang' is a label used by BJP leaders since at least 2016, originally tied to protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University, applied to individuals or groups accused of promoting anti-national sentiment. Congress has rejected the label as an attempt to criminalise dissent.
Why did Rijiju ask Chidambaram to clarify his position?
As a former Union Home Minister with authority on internal security matters, P. Chidambaram's stance on statements linked to extremism carries political weight. Rijiju's demand is designed to force a public response that either aligns or distances Chidambaram from the controversy.
Was this post connected to PM Modi?
Yes. Rijiju posted as a reply to a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signalling top-level political alignment with the message rather than a solo intervention.
