Amid Youth Pitch At Top Delhi College, PM Modi Targets "Dimagi Naxals" - NDTV

**PM Modi’s SRCC Address Draws Praise and Protest Over “Dimagi Naxals” Comment**

New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of over 1,500 students and faculty at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Monday, marking the first visit by a sitting prime minister to the university in more than a decade. In a speech that blended admiration for the college’s alumni network with contemporary slang, Modi hailed SRCC as “the cradle of India’s business and public‑life leaders,” noting that past graduates have gone on to head multinational corporations, helm ministries and launch social‑impact ventures. He then turned to the younger audience, using terms such as “OG,” “dhurandhar,” and “naaraaz fufa” to convey a generational nod, before warning against what he called “dimagi Naxals” – a phrase he used to describe students he believes are spreading “intellectual extremism” and sowing dissent on campus.

The “dimagi Naxals” remark sparked immediate controversy. Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, condemned the language as an attempt to label dissenting voices as extremist. Kharge told reporters, “Adjectives keep changing, but the intent remains the same – to stifle free speech on campuses.” Student groups at SRCC and other Delhi universities organized a quick protest after the speech, holding placards that read “Freedom of Thought, Not Fear” and demanding an apology. Several faculty members expressed concern that the prime minister’s characterization could chill academic debate, while others defended the remarks as a necessary call for “responsible discourse” amid rising campus protests.

Analysts note that Modi’s choice of slang was a calculated effort to connect with Gen‑Z audiences, a strategy the government has employed increasingly in recent speeches. However, the backlash suggests a delicate balancing act: while the prime minister’s praise for SRCC’s legacy was well‑received, the “dimagi Naxals” label has ignited a broader debate about the limits of political rhetoric in higher‑education settings. The incident comes as the government prepares to introduce new guidelines on campus activities, which critics argue could further tighten controls on student expression.