Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to student-related concerns, saying young people facing difficulties require an apology for government actions rather than forgiveness. He made the remarks while attending the launch of a book authored by former MP Vaiko, where he spoke about issues including education, examinations and the preservation of India’s diverse cultural identity.

Gandhi said students across the country were experiencing “severe pain” due to concerns over employment opportunities, examination fairness and the education system. He questioned the idea of the Prime Minister offering forgiveness to protesting students and said the government should instead acknowledge their grievances. His remarks came amid ongoing political debates over examination reforms and youth-related issues.

The Congress leader alleged that students were also protesting against what he described as attempts by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to rewrite India’s history. He said every state has its own culture, language and historical experience, which must be respected within the framework of the Constitution. Gandhi emphasised that India’s identity comes from the contributions of its different states and communities.

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Gandhi said the Constitution describes India as a “Union of States” and argued that each state represents a distinct history, tradition and language. Referring to Tamil Nadu as an example, he said the state’s identity is connected with the experiences, struggles and cultural heritage of its people. He alleged that efforts to impose a single historical narrative would undermine the country’s diversity.

The Congress leader further claimed that the current political debate was linked to a broader ideological conflict over how India’s history and identity should be understood. He said the country would not accept any attempt to disregard the histories of different regions. Gandhi reiterated that protecting cultural diversity and ensuring equal treatment for all states remained central to the political struggle.

The book launch event was attended by several opposition leaders and public figures, including Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Manickam Tagore, Tamil Nadu Education Minister A Rajmohan, Trinamool Congress leader Sagarika Ghosh, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, CPI-M general secretary M A Baby, CPI leader D Raja, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha and NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule. Gandhi also praised Vaiko’s contribution to public life and described him as an inspiration.

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