New Delhi : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday attended the launch of “Vaiko in Parliament”, a book compiling the parliamentary speeches of Vaiko, General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi spoke on issues related to education, employment, and India’s federal and cultural diversity.
He said the country was passing through a difficult period in which students were protesting on the streets, demanding jobs, fair examinations, and an education system that functions effectively.
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi questioned remarks made by the Prime Minister regarding students, saying:
“Who is he to forgive them? Where does he get the idea that he has the right to forgive the future of India?”
Rahul Gandhi further alleged that the ideology of the Prime Minister, his colleagues, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) undermines the histories, identities, and languages of India’s diverse states.
He claimed that this ideology seeks to prioritise only the language and history promoted by the RSS while disregarding the country’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
According to the Congress leader, the ongoing student protests reflect resistance to such an approach. He said India would never accept any attempt to suppress its diverse cultures, languages, or histories, adding that students were defending the idea of India in their own way.
The event marked the release of a compilation of parliamentary speeches delivered by Vaiko, highlighting his contributions to debates and discussions in Parliament.