A political development has emerged: Captain Amarinder Singh has sought clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the meaning of ‘Urban Naxalism’ (referred to in Hindi as *Dimagi Naxalwad* or ‘intellectual Naxalism’). In his speech from the Red Fort on August 15, Prime Minister Modi had spoken about curbing ‘Urban Naxalism.’ Now, addressing this issue in an article, former Punjab Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh has asked the Prime Minister to clarify the term.
Captain Amarinder Singh stated, “When the Prime Minister speaks of ‘identifying’ and ‘isolating’ a certain section, it must be made clear where the line is drawn between an ‘Urban Naxal’ and legitimate dissent. If the term refers to those who deliberately incite Maoist violence, that distinction must be clarified. National security is essential in a democracy, but legitimate dissent cannot be equated with Naxalism. A clear boundary—a *Lakshman Rekha*—must be drawn here.”
Captain questioned how the category of ‘Urban Naxalism’ differs from legitimate dissent, noting that the term ‘Naxal’ should not be used lightly. He argued that India need not choose between national security and democratic freedoms; if understood correctly, the two reinforce each other. He noted that while the Prime Minister did not label recent youth protests as ‘Urban Naxalism,’ political terms often transcend their original contexts. Captain emphasized that Prime Minister Modi should clarify the exact meaning of the term ‘Urban Naxalism.’
Additionally, Captain pointed out that Naxal organizations do not rely solely on armed cadres; a network of individuals providing funding, propaganda, shelter, and logistics supports the movement and assists in orchestrating conspiracies. Strict action should be taken against them; however, young people demanding jobs, students protesting over exams, those questioning government policies, or farmers staging protests do not become ‘Urban Naxals’ simply for doing so. It would be wrong to label someone an extremist solely on the grounds of their dissent or opposition.
