Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier “dimaagi Naxals” remark, accusing the BJP of using labels to avoid questions over government accountability.
Gandhi made the comments on Monday through a post on X, nearly three weeks after PM Modi referred to “dimaagi Naxals” during his Independence Day address at the Red Fort and called for such people to be isolated.
The Congress leader linked his criticism to the recent Satya Niketan building collapse in Delhi, in which seven people lost their lives. He argued that authorities should focus on preventing such incidents rather than limiting responsibility to lower-level officials.
Gandhi also used the hashtag #TINA, giving it a different meaning from the phrase commonly associated with political discussions. While supporters of PM Modi have used TINA to mean “There Is No Alternative”, Gandhi described it as “There Is No Accountability.”
Rahul Gandhi Questions Government Over Delhi Tragedies
In his Hindi-language post, Gandhi alleged that the BJP repeatedly places responsibility on junior officials while those he considers responsible at higher levels avoid accountability.
He further claimed that the Satya Niketan incident was not an isolated case and referred to other deadly incidents reported in Delhi in recent months.
“In the last four months, six people died in a similar disaster in Saidulajab, and a fire in Hauz Rani claimed 22 lives,” Gandhi said.
“Every time, lives, dreams, and aspirations get buried under rubble — and every time, any real action is nowhere to be found,” he added.
The Congress leader’s comments came after the Satya Niketan tragedy raised fresh questions over building safety, inspections and enforcement in the national capital.
‘Dimaagi Naxal’ Remark Sparks Fresh Political Attack
Gandhi also directly addressed PM Modi’s use of terms such as “dimaagi Naxal” and “naraaz phoopha”.
The Congress has previously criticised the terminology, alleging that the BJP uses the phrase against people who question government policies and decisions.
“And when you demand accountability, the prime minister himself slaps you with insulting labels like ‘dimagi Naxal and naraaz phoopha’ — the intent being to shame, defame, and silence anyone who dares to ask questions,” Gandhi said.
The remarks mark Gandhi’s direct response to Modi’s Independence Day comments, which had triggered a political exchange between the BJP and Congress.
The BJP and Congress have since sparred over the phrase, with the opposition party questioning what it considers an attempt to brand critics rather than address their concerns.
Gandhi Says ‘Triple-Engine’ Government Cannot Avoid Accountability
Gandhi also questioned the Delhi government’s ability to escape responsibility for the Satya Niketan incident.
Referring to Delhi’s “triple-engine” government, he argued that the political alignment of governments at different levels should make it easier, rather than harder, to establish responsibility and take action.
“The helplessness stems from a lack of intent — because where there’s no intent, there’s no accountability either,” Gandhi said.
His latest attack comes amid a wider political debate over accountability following deadly building-related incidents in Delhi.
The Congress is seeking greater scrutiny of the authorities responsible for building inspections and enforcement, while Gandhi has used the Satya Niketan tragedy to renew his criticism of the BJP-led government.
The exchange also highlights the continuing political battle between Modi and Gandhi, with both sides using sharp labels and counter-allegations to frame the debate over governance, responsibility and public safety.
