Rijiju wrote on X: “PM @narendramodi ji didn’t say opposition leaders as Dimagi Naxals.”

He said the term “Dimagi Naxals” could only be used for those who support Maoists, reject the Indian Constitution, side with separatists, support Article 370 and seek to “cut the chicken neck” to separate the Northeast from the rest of India.

In his Independence Day address on Saturday, Modi praised the country for successfully uprooting armed Maoism.

“The armed Naxalites have been defeated, but the Naxal mindset remains,” Modi said.

“These forces are looking for opportunities. They are searching for paths of violence and anarchy, and are employing various tactics to drag society onto the wrong path,” he added.

Modi further said that such a mindset must be identified.“We must isolate such elements and connect the country's young generation with the mainstream path of building a developed nation,” he said.

Following the remarks, Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram took a swipe at the Prime Minister, writing on X.

He wrote: "I am proud to be a dimagi naxal!”