New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Sunday raised questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks urging youth to move forward after learning from mistakes, asking who exactly the “grievance” was against.
Speaking to ANI, Khurshid said forgiveness is associated with having a grievance against someone and questioned the basis of describing the youth as requiring forgiveness.
“First, it must be established who exactly is his grievance against? You forgive someone you have a grievance with. So, what was the grievance against the children that they are being forgiven?… To simply say ‘we have forgiven them’ would be wrong, because that implies you have accepted that they were at fault and you are forgiving them,” Khurshid said
Khurshid’s remarks came after Prime Minister Modi said he works for the bright future of the youth and urged them to move ahead after learning from their mistakes.
“Today I just feel like talking to you. The country and the world have witnessed what happened at Jantar Mantar. Some mischievous children used very crude and abusive language, words that do not befit any civilised society. I was personally abused, and even my late mother was subjected to abuse. It was a truly ugly spectacle,” PM Modi said.
“However, I want to talk about the fact that mistakes happen in childhood, and childhood also offers the opportunity to correct those mistakes; that is simply the nature of being young. Therefore, I can fully understand the outrage within society. It comes as a cultural shock to see our daughters using such language. Yet, now is the time to embrace these children and show them the right path. They have lost their way, and it is our duty to guide them,” he added.
The Prime Minister further said that punishing the youth, dragging them through court proceedings and subjecting them to social harassment would not resolve the situation.
“I want to forgive them. Society, too, should accept this. I hold only one sentiment in my heart. Sometimes, our tongue gets caught between our teeth and bleeds, yet we do not break our teeth; after all, both the teeth and the tongue belong to us. These children are ours, too. It is our duty to show them the right path,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that guiding those who have gone astray is difficult, “but it is a task we must undertake”. (ANI)
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