Congress lawmaker slams Modi for "forgive youth" comment and calls for apology

Jairam Ramesh, a senior Congress figure, used his X account to lambaste Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a recent statement in which he said he "forgives" the nation's youth. Ramesh described the prime minister as a self-styled victim who habitually spreads lies to tarnish rivals, both on the floor of Parliament and in public speeches. He called for a formal apology covering a litany of grievances, including alleged paper-leak scandals tied to the National Testing Agency, the government's harsh response to student demonstrators, the November 2016 demonetisation that hurt millions of small businesses, and controversies surrounding the Ram Mandir Trust.

The congressman further suggested that Modi's comment insulted the nation and its young people, who have suffered under these policies. Modi, meanwhile, posted a video urging an end to abusive language and highlighted recent parliamentary action to strengthen the examination system. The exchange underscores the deepening political rift over youth-related policies and public discourse in India.