At SRCC Centenary, PM Modi Revives 'Dimagi Naxal' Taunt, Urges Youth to Dream Big
PM Modi at SRCC's centenary revived his 'dimagi Naxal' barb, likening it to homeopathy, and urged Gen-Z to envision a developed India by learning from past crises.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi, using the platform to both take a dig at his political critics and deliver a message aimed squarely at the country's youth.
Reviving a phrase he had first used in his Independence Day address, PM Modi referred to his critics as "dimagi Naxals". He likened the term to a homeopathic remedy, suggesting that its effect was to draw out the true nature of those it described. "As soon as I gave the 'dimagi Naxal' homeopathic pill, all the 'dimagi Naxals' started coming out one after another," he said, adding that the public was now witnessing the real colours of those promoting what he called this "illness".
The bulk of his speech, however, was directed at the student audience, urging Gen-Z to formulate an aspirational vision for a developed India. To make his point, he walked the students through a series of past national crises, contrasting the responses of previous governments with those of his own administration.
He pointed to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster, recalling that the then-government was "shaken" and unsure how to respond. He also criticised the handling of the 2008 global financial crisis, alleging that the government of the day lacked the courage to tackle the ensuing banking turmoil, pushing the system to the brink.
In contrast, PM Modi listed the challenges his government has navigated, from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war to the weaponisation of supply chains and the West Asia crisis. He noted that on each occasion, detractors predicted India's downfall, but asserted that the strength of the people's blessings had left such wishes unfulfilled.
This was not the PM's first visit to the college. He had last addressed SRCC students in 2013 as Gujarat Chief Minister, a speech that gained significant traction online ahead of the 2014 general elections.