Congress Attacks PM Modi's 'Forgive Youth' Remark, Demands Apology Instead

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's late-night video message in which he said he "forgives" the country's youth and condemned abusive language. Ramesh said the Prime Minister should instead apologise over a range of issues, including alleged exam paper leaks, the treatment of student protesters, demonetisation and the functioning of the Ram Mandir Trust.

In a post on X, Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of playing the "victim card." He alleged that Mr. Modi "uses vile vitriol against his predecessors and political opponents" and "very frequently peddles lies to defame them, not just in his public speeches but in Parliament itself." He further claimed that the Prime Minister "unleashes an army of foul-mouthed abusers both in Parliament and outside and gives them full protection."

Referring to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and student protests, Ramesh said "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." He also demanded an apology over the "Chanda Chori Astha Dhoka by the Ram Mandir Trust" and the "Tughlakian notebandi of Nov 8 2016" which he claimed "destroyed crores of livelihoods and shuttered lakhs if MSMEs."

Ramesh added that the Prime Minister's late-night remark that he forgave the youth was "an insult to the nation and to our youth," asserting that young people had suffered under the government's policies and were instead seeking an apology from the Prime Minister. He also dismissed the Prime Minister's outreach efforts, saying "The Prime Minister's InstaGram Sabhas are fooling no one."

Prime Minister Modi had on Friday shared a video on X with a message against abusive language and hate, saying "abuses never solve anything." The video came amid a controversy over alleged derogatory remarks made against him by a woman from Noida during a protest in Delhi. In his post, Mr. Modi wrote, "Let's guide the misguided. Let's work together. Let's work for Bharat."

In the video, the Prime Minister highlighted the government's efforts to strengthen the country's examination system, citing Parliament's passage of a stringent anti-paper leak law. "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," he said.

The Prime Minister noted that paper leaks had affected governments across the country for decades and jeopardised the future of students. He reiterated that the government would act firmly against those involved in paper leak rackets.

The exchange marks the latest flashpoint between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with each side accusing the other of political posturing. While Ramesh framed his criticism around specific policy grievances, the Prime Minister's remarks focused on unity and institutional reform. The full context of the allegations and counter-allegations remains a matter of political debate.