NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, expressing disapproval over his remarks about ‘forgiving’ the youth of the nation. Ramesh suggested that instead of such statements, the Prime Minister should apologize for a slew of issues affecting young people, including the alleged exam paper leaks, the treatment of student protesters, the impacts of demonetisation, and the operations of the Ram Mandir Trust.
In a post on X, Ramesh accused Modi of playing the victim card, stating that the “self-declared non-biological PM” often uses derogatory language against his predecessors and political rivals. He emphasized that Modi frequently disseminates falsehoods aimed at tarnishing their reputations—not just during public addresses but also within Parliament.
“He unleashes an army of foul-mouthed abusers both in Parliament and outside and gives them full protection,”
Ramesh asserted, voicing his concerns about the atmosphere surrounding political discourse.
Addressing the National Testing Agency (NTA) and ongoing student protests, he stated, “The entire nation is wanting the PM to apologise for the trauma inflicted on lakhs of youth through his paper leak-ridden NTA and his Home Ministry-sanctioned brutality on student protestors.” Ramesh also called for an apology regarding the aforementioned issues in the context of the Ram Mandir Trust and criticized the November 8, 2016 demonetisation—labeling it “Tughlakian notebandi”— which he claimed devastated crores of livelihoods and shuttered lakhs of MSMEs.
Ramesh concluded: “But late last night, in an act of supreme self-obsession, the PM said that he forgave our youth,” deeming the statement an insult to the nation and its youth who have suffered from the government’s policies. He emphasized that instead of forgiveness, young individuals are in search of an apology from the Prime Minister.
In a related context, Prime Minister Modi shared a video on Instagram late Friday evening, advocating against the use of abusive language and promoting unity. He stated that “abuses never solve anything” amidst an ongoing controversy stemming from derogatory remarks made by a woman from Noida during a protest in Delhi.
“Let’s guide the misguided. Let’s work together. Let’s work for Bharat,”
Modi encouraged in his video, highlighting the government’s commitment to strengthening the examination system. He mentioned the Parliament’s recent passage of a strict anti-paper leak law.
In the video, he asserted, “Friends, we are continuously taking one step after another to build a trustworthy examination system. Whether it is creating fast-track mechanisms or incorporating suggestions from the states, we are working in that direction.” The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the government is dedicated to taking stringent action against those involved in paper leak rackets, underscoring the long-standing issues these leaks have caused for students and administrations alike.
