{
  "id": 998443,
  "title": "‘Under-confident, shaky, nervous’: PM Modi's speech fumble, ‘dimaagi Naxal’ dig trigger Oppn attack, Congress reacts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/under-confident-shaky-nervous-pm-modis-speech-fumble-dimaagi-naxal",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-15T08:39:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/underconfident-shaky-nervous-pm-modis-speech-fumble-dimaagi-naxal-dig-trigger-oppn-wrath-congress-reacts-101786781505935.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Opposition parties quickly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a clip surfaced of him appearing fumbling and nervous during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort. Congress leader Pawan Khera tweeted \"Superhuman without teleprompter,\" while AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal called Modi an \"under-confident, nervous and shaky Prime Minister.\" The criticism came as Modi's address was notably shorter, lasting around 75 minutes compared to the 90-minute speech delivered in 2023. The opposition targeted Modi's delivery and his comments on \"dimagi Naxals\" or ideological Naxalism. Modi claimed that while Maoist violence was dwindling, an ideological Naxal mindset persisted in certain institutions, urging authorities to identify and isolate these individuals. Critics dismissed the term as political rhetoric, drawing parallels to the BJP's earlier use of \"Urban Naxal,\" which faced legal scrutiny. The Congress also lambasted Modi's women's reservation proposal, questioning the government's commitment to the law passed in 2023 and its delayed implementation.",
  "summary": "Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the 80th Independence Day, announcing several measures across various sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and sports. He emphasized the importance of women's reservation in politics, urging all parties to support the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which was passed unanimously in Parliament in September 2023. However, the Congress party questioned why the government couldn't pass and implement the law in 12 years, accusing Modi of making a \"dishonest pitch\" for women's reservation.\n\nModi also launched a scathing attack on Naxalism and Maoism, stating that the two had destroyed the future of several young people. He referred to \"Dimagi Naxals\" as intellectuals with a Naxal mentality, who create unrest and violence despite the physical elimination of armed Naxals. According to The Indian Express, Modi outlined seven streams of development, including manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and infrastructure, as areas of focus for the next five to seven years.\n\nThe Congress party responded to Modi's speech, with Congress leader Pawan Khera sharing a video clip on social media, saying \"Superhuman without teleprompter (Mahamanav bina teleprompter ke)\". Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticized Modi's speech, accusing the government of \"double-faced hypocrisy\" for not implementing the women's reservation policy from the 2024 elections.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "‘Imperative to identify, isolate dimaagi Naxals’: PM Modi in Independence Day speech",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/imperative-to-identify-isolate-dimaagi-naxals-pm-modi-in-independence",
        "published": "2026-08-15T05:45:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "‘Sure sign of desperation’: Congress hits back at PM Modi over ‘dimaagi Naxals’ remark",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/sure-sign-of-desperation-congress-hits-back-at-pm-modi-over-dimaagi",
        "published": "2026-08-15T06:34:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}