India, Aug. 16 -- Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has backed the "dimagi naxals' (intellectual naxals) remark made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that while armed naxalism has been brought under control, "dimagi naxalwad" (intellectual naxalism) is even more dangerous because it exists in people's minds."

Speaking to the media after the Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony in Mumbai on Saturday, Fadnavis then lashed out at former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, saying she was an example of "dimagi naxalwad" as she had allegedly objected to the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram at the party's Independence Day event.

The Congress has denied that Gandhi had any objections to singing the full version of the national...