Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 6: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reviving his “Dimagi Naxal” remark against what it described as a young and questioning generation during his address at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC).

CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka said the Prime Minister could have used the centenary celebrations to address issues concerning education, employment and student welfare instead of targeting his critics.

The reaction came after Modi, while addressing students at SRCC on Saturday, referred to his “Dimagi Naxal” remark made during his Independence Day speech last month.

“As soon as I gave the ‘Dimagi Naxal’ homeopathy pill, all the ‘Dimagi Naxals’ started coming out one by one,” Modi said, adding that the public was now seeing the “true colours” of those encouraging what he described as the “illness”.

CJP co-convener Saurav Das strongly objected to the remark, saying it was inappropriate for a Prime Minister to label young people who question those in power as “Dimagi Naxals”.

Das said Modi should instead have addressed concerns faced by students and teachers at SRCC, including protests by teachers over medical and childcare leave, deteriorating infrastructure and the intense pressure created by competition among students.

“A Prime Minister should give the young hope, not such stupid labels. He should answer their questions, not vilify them for asking,” Das said.

Ranka also criticised the Prime Minister’s speech, saying the occasion called for discussion on education, jobs, challenges faced by students and India’s priorities for the next two decades.

Instead, he accused Modi of resorting to what he termed “Dimagi Naxal nonsense” and took a swipe at the Prime Minister’s educational qualifications.

Modi, who addressed a gathering of students for nearly 50 minutes, also highlighted what he described as India’s shift from “policy paralysis” to “policy dynamism” under the BJP-led government.

The Prime Minister returned to SRCC more than 13 years after his previous visit in February 2013, when the BJP was in opposition and he was a year away from assuming office.

During Saturday’s address, Modi compared India’s economic situation in 2013 with its position today. He said his 2013 speech had triggered a “wave” and criticised those who had pushed India into the “Fragile Five” grouping, saying they were now unable to accept India’s reported 7.8% economic growth.

Modi said India in 2013 was facing multiple challenges, including terror attacks, inflation and corruption, while growth was at a low and inflation remained high.