New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at Delhi’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday has kicked off a fresh political controversy, after he once again used the term “dimagi Naxal” while taking a swipe at what he called an anti development mindset.
Speaking at SRCC’s centenary celebrations, Modi said the phrase he had used earlier had worked like a “homeopathic pill” and claimed that people he was referring to had since “come out in the open”. His remarks quickly drew criticism from the Congress, which accused the Prime Minister of turning an interaction with students into another political attack.
Modi, however, kept his focus largely on India’s future and the role of young people. Speaking to students at one of the country’s best known commerce colleges, he said India should aim to become a developed nation and urged the younger generation to take an active role in that journey.
The Prime Minister also looked back at India’s economic record over the past decade. He contrasted the situation he inherited with the country’s present position and highlighted India’s reported 7.8% GDP growth. Modi also referred to the “Fragile Five” label that India was associated with around 2013, arguing that the country had since made significant economic progress.
Taking aim at previous governments, Modi recalled the 2008 global financial crisis and the problems faced by India’s banking sector in its aftermath. He also mentioned the 2013 Kedarnath disaster, using both episodes to argue that governments in the past had struggled to respond effectively to major challenges.
Looking ahead, Modi spoke about several long term ambitions for India, including becoming a major agricultural exporter, building an Indian space station and hosting the Olympic Games. He said such goals would require young Indians to think beyond conventional boundaries.
The event marked 100 years of SRCC, and Modi praised the college’s contribution to India’s business, academic and public life. He also travelled by Delhi Metro to and from the programme.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Prime Minister’s remarks, saying a programme centred on young people should have focused on their concerns and opportunities instead of political attacks.
The sharp exchange has once again put Modi and the Opposition on opposite sides of a debate over India’s economic progress, youth aspirations and the politics surrounding the country’s development story.
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