New Delhi: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent remarks about student protesters, questioning the PM’s “right to forgive” them.
Speaking at the launch of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) MP Durai Vaiko’s book, The Walls of Parliament Still Echo Vaiko’s Voice, Rahul referred to a recent video of the Prime Minister in which he spoke of “forgiving” students, asking why they needed to be forgiven when they were only demanding jobs, a fair examination system and better educational opportunities.
“We are going through a strange time. Students are on the street, in severe pain. They don’t have work. They’re asking for fairness in exams. They’re asking for an education system that works. On the other side, there is the Prime Minister who forgives them. Who gave him the right to forgive the students? Who is he to forgive the students?” the Congress leader said.
He then attacked RSS, accusing it of trying to reshape India’s identity. “RSS can’t change our history. India will not tolerate its history to be trampled upon by anybody.”
Referring to the Constitution, Rahul said India’s diversity was its greatest strength and that every state had an equal place in the Union. “In the Constitution, it is clearly written: India, that is Bharat, is a Union of States. A state is an expression of the people of India. Every state represents one history, one tradition, one language and one expression of our people. Every single state has the right to that expression, and every single state must be treated fairly.”
He also accused the RSS of attempting to impose a single idea of India. “There are some ignorant people who don’t understand the Bengali, Marathi or Tamil people and their languages. There is a belief being enforced that there is only one language. Behind this thinking is the RSS, which is a very dangerous idea.”
Earlier in his address, Rahul praised veteran MDMK leader Vaiko while also taking a swipe at BJP leaders. “Mr Vaiko is a student of life, he is always learning unlike many others,” he said in a veiled attack.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also addressed the gathering, calling for stronger democratic institutions.
He said the Election Commission should have been made autonomous and that the judiciary should not be “dependent on the government’s wishes”. He referred to these as “mistakes” that had been made.
Referring to the CJP’s Chalo Sansad march, Abdullah also criticised the treatment of student protesters. “Children had come out on the streets, and the way they were treated. The capital was in complete disarray. No one can forget how our children were treated. India needs to wake up now. Unless we fight the policies of the government, we will never make India great again,” he said, before urging opposition parties to “stand together to make India great again”.
He also slammed the central government for making the elected government in Kashmir “powerless”.
Abdullah further warned that Kashmir was a testing ground and the same treatment would eventually be given to other states as well. “The crown of India has been reduced to a Union Territory. The elected government has no power. Power is with the center. When we ask for statehood they say yes, but when will you do it? How long do we wait” he said at the event.
The book launch also served as a show of Opposition unity, with CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby, CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI General Secretary D. Raja, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram among those present.
(Edited by Prakhar Agrawal)
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