Congress to PM Modi: Youth deserve apology, not 'forgiveness'

On Saturday, the Congress demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the country's youth, rejecting his reported statement that he had forgiven them. The demand came after Mr. Modi's interaction on Instagram, where he reportedly said he had forgiven the youth, prompting sharp criticism from the opposition party.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took exception to the Prime Minister's comments, describing the statement as "an act of supreme self-obsession" and "an insult to the nation and to our youth". Mr. Ramesh said the Prime Minister owed an apology to the youth for various issues during his tenure, rather than claiming to forgive them.

"The self-declared non-biological PM enjoys playing the victim card," Mr. Ramesh said, alleging that Mr. Modi routinely attacked his predecessors and political opponents and used Parliament and public speeches to "peddle lies" against them. He also accused him of providing protection to "an army of foul-mouthed abusers" both inside and outside Parliament.

Mr. Ramesh specifically cited the alleged paper leaks in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the government's handling of student protests. "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 said.

He also referred to the controversy surrounding the Ram Mandir Trust, using the phrase "Chanda Chori, Astha Dhoka" (Donation theft, trust betrayal), and said the Prime Minister should apologise for that issue. In addition, Mr. Ramesh accused the government of failing to acknowledge the economic impact of the 2016 demonetisation exercise, which he alleged destroyed livelihoods and forced the closure of lakhs of micro, small and medium enterprises.

"But late last night, in act of supreme self-obsession, the PM said that he forgave our youth. This is an insult to the nation and to our youth which has suffered under his Government and is legitimately demanding an apology from him. The Prime Minister's InstaGram Sabhas are fooling no one," Mr. Ramesh said.

The National Testing Agency, which conducts major entrance examinations, has been under scrutiny over allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities. Several cases have been reported in recent months, leading to protests and demands for systemic reforms. Student protests, particularly in the context of exam cancellations and alleged administrative lapses, have also been a flashpoint, with opposition parties accusing authorities of using excessive force.

The economic impact of demonetisation, implemented in November 2016, has been a subject of ongoing debate. While the government has defended the move as a step against black money and counterfeit currency, critics have pointed to the hardship faced by small businesses, daily-wage earners, and informal workers. The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, responsible for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, has faced allegations regarding the utilisation of donations. The trust has denied these allegations, and the matter has become politically significant.

At the time of reporting, the Prime Minister's office had not issued a response to the Congress's latest statement. The exchange highlights the continuing political rivalry between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of upcoming elections. The Congress has consistently demanded accountability from the Prime Minister on these issues, while the BJP has often dismissed such allegations as politically motivated.