Students in ‘severe pain’ need apology, not PM’s ‘forgiveness’: Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer of forgiveness to protesting students, arguing that students deserve an apology for unemployment and systemic failures. He further linked these protests to broader concerns regarding the RSS's influence on national history and cultural identity.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing political tension between the opposition and the ruling government regarding youth employment and cultural nationalism.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (August 8, 2026) said students protesting across the country were in “severe pain” over unemployment and the state of the education system and did not need Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “forgiveness” but an apology for his government’s actions against them.
Speaking at the launch of a book on former MP and MDMK chief Vaiko, Vaiko in Parliament , Mr. Gandhi said students had taken to the streets demanding fairness in examinations and a functioning education system.
“They don’t have work and are asking for fairness in exams and an education system that works. On the other hand, the Prime Minister is forgiving them. Who is he to forgive them? Where does he get this idea that he can forgive the future of India? They don’t need his forgiveness; they deserve an apology,” he said.
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