New Delhi: BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday used sarcasm to counter critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the Prime Minister had “failed” to become a dictator because he chose forgiveness over punishment in response to the recent NEET protest controversy.
In a video shared on social media, Poonawalla said he was “totally disappointed” with the Prime Minister, adding sarcastically that despite completing 12 years in office, Modi had failed to become the dictator his critics often portray him to be.
His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi released a video urging society, the police and the public to forgive students who allegedly used abusive language against him and his late mother during the NEET protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Modi described the students as “misguided children” and said they should be guided rather than punished, stressing that young people deserve an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s message, Poonawalla said that instead of taking an authoritarian approach, Modi appealed for compassion and reconciliation.
The BJP leader also launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, alleging that Congress governments had taken stricter action against dissent in various instances. He cited alleged cases registered over social media posts and protests in opposition-ruled states while contrasting them with the Centre’s decision to withdraw cases against student protesters after accepting several of their demands.
Poonawalla further invoked historical events, including the Emergency imposed in 1975, accusing the Congress of suppressing dissent and curbing democratic freedoms during its tenure.
Concluding his remarks, he again mocked the Prime Minister’s detractors, saying that Modi had disappointed those who labelled him a dictator by choosing forgiveness over retaliation.
The Prime Minister’s appeal followed the conclusion of the NEET protest movement after the Centre accepted key demands related to examination reforms and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down from his post.