The Hindu Editorial Critiques Politicians' Use of 'Naxal' Label

The Hindu recently published an editorial titled 'The politics of calling minds ‘Naxal’' that critiques the political use of the term 'Naxal'. The piece explains that 'Naxal' originally refers to a left‑wing insurgent group that emerged in the 1960s, but the term has been co‑opted by politicians to delegitimize dissent. The editorial argues that labeling dissenters as Naxal is a tactic to undermine democratic debate and can inflame public sentiment. It calls for responsible language and urges politicians to avoid using the term as a political weapon.