Congress demands PM Modi apologise to students, stop playing victim

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accuses PM Modi of insulting students instead of taking responsibility.

Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing the "victim card" by forgiving students and Gen Z who allegedly abused him during protests at Jantar Mantar over paper leaks. The Congress demanded an apology from the Prime Minister for the brutal action against protesting students and the repeated paper leaks that troubled the youth.

Congress described the Prime Minister's Instagram video as a display of "excessive self-love." Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that instead of taking responsibility for the issues raised by the youth, Prime Minister Modi is insulting them.

Jairam Ramesh posted on X, stating,

"Late on Friday night, the Prime Minister showed excessive self-love by saying he has forgiven our youth. This is an insult to the country and our youth. The youth have endured a lot during his government and are rightly demanding an apology from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, who calls himself non-biological, loves to play the victim card."

The Congress leader also alleged that Modi often targets his predecessors and political opponents. He said, "He often spreads lies to defame his opponents. This is done not only in public speeches but also in Parliament. He unleashes a whole army of abusers inside and outside Parliament and gives them full protection."

Ramesh said, "The entire country is demanding an apology from the Prime Minister for the shock and trouble faced by lakhs of youth due to the paper leak-ridden NTA system. Several students have even committed suicide in shock. There is also a demand for an apology from the Prime Minister for the brutal action against student protesters with the approval of the Home Ministry."

He further said, "The entire country is also waiting for an apology from the Prime Minister for the 'offering theft and betrayal of Hindu faith' associated with the Ram Temple Trust. This is the same institution he announced with much fanfare in the Lok Sabha on February 5, 2020. The entire country is still hoping for an apology for his Tughlaqi demonetisation on November 8, 2016, which affected the livelihoods of crores of people and shut down lakhs of MSMEs. This list is endless."

Pawan Khera, head of the Congress's media and publicity department, also took a dig at the Prime Minister's new Instagram video.

Tagging Modi's video on X, Khera wrote,

"Listen to him. The country is asking him to apologise, and he has forgiven the country."

Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticised the Prime Minister's message. He alleged that what the government did was completely contrary to the Prime Minister's appeal for apology and compassion. Bharadwaj said,

"What PM Modi and Godi media did with Gen Z, this country will never forgive." He alleged that right-wing goons were set upon minor boys and girls, beaten when found alone, and videos were made. These videos were spread through social media and media to intimidate the youth and their parents.

He also alleged that FIRs were filed on minor charges and pressure was exerted on children and their families through the media. The apology videos of children were presented as "trophies of victory" by some anchors and supporters. Bharadwaj said, "Now this tasteless video of the Prime Minister has come, in which he is saying things completely opposite to what he was doing."

This criticism came after a video posted by Prime Minister Modi on Instagram on Friday night. In the video, Modi said that during the protest at Jantar Mantar over irregularities in NEET, abuses were hurled at him and his late mother. However, he said that punishing the students is not the solution and appealed for sensitivity towards them. Modi said, "Not only were abuses hurled at me at Jantar Mantar, but my late mother was also abused. But abuses do not solve any problem. Let's show the right path to those who have gone astray."