Arvind Kejriwal, national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, said he is proud to be a "dimagi naxal" in a statement from New Delhi [1].
The comment marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reflecting the deep ideological divide in Indian politics.
Kejriwal said he is a true patriot who does not fear the BJP [1]. The statement was reported on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026 [2].
"I am proud to be a dimagi naxal and I am a true patriot who does not fear the BJP," Kejriwal said [1].
The term "naxal" typically refers to followers of the Naxalite movement, a far-left militant insurgency in India. By adding the modifier "dimagi," which translates to "intellectual" or "mental," Kejriwal frames his opposition to the current government as a conceptual or ideological struggle rather than a militant one.
This phrasing follows a pattern of high-tension exchanges between the Aam Aadmi Party leadership and the BJP. The use of such provocative terminology is often intended to signal defiance to a political base while challenging the BJP's narrative on nationalism and patriotism.
Kejriwal's assertion that he is a "true patriot" serves as a counter-claim to accusations often leveled against opposition leaders in India. By claiming the label of a "dimagi naxal," he attempts to reclaim a term usually used as a pejorative by the state and its supporters [1].
The statement was first detailed in reports from PTI and later disseminated via MSN [1], [2].
“"I am proud to be a dimagi naxal and I am a true patriot who does not fear the BJP."”
By adopting the label 'dimagi naxal,' Kejriwal is utilizing a provocative linguistic strategy to frame his political dissent as an intellectual rebellion. This allows him to signal solidarity with marginalized or radical ideologies while explicitly distancing himself from physical violence, thereby challenging the BJP's definition of patriotism and internal security.
