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.

‘Need fairness in exams’

“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.

Mr. Gandhi linked the student protests to what he described as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) attempt to impose a single historical narrative on the country. Citing the Constitution’s description of India as a “Union of States”, he said every State embodied the history, traditions, language and aspirations of its people.

“When you say Tamil Nadu, inside it is the history of the Tamil people — their pain, suffering and happiness. Every State has the right to express its own culture and language,” he said.

‘No trampling of history’

Alleging that the RSS believed only the history “ascribed by it” mattered, he added: “This is why the students are out on the streets. India will not tolerate its history being trampled upon by anybody.”

Among those present at the event were former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, TNCC chief Manickam Tagore, Tamil Nadu Education Minister A. Rajmohan, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, CPI general secretary D. Raja, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, RSP MP N.K. Premachandran, NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule and Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose.

Describing Mr. Vaiko as “an inspiration for all of us”, Mr. Gandhi thanked the veteran leader for his service to the country and said it was an honour to participate in the launch of his book.

Published - August 04, 2026 10:35 pm IST