BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday took a swipe at critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sarcastically claiming that the Prime Minister had “failed to become a proper dictator” while defending his response to the recent NEET protest controversy.
In a video shared on X, Poonawalla said he was “disappointed” with the Prime Minister, adding that despite completing 12 years in office, Modi had failed to behave like a dictator. The remark was intended as a criticism of opposition leaders who have repeatedly accused the Prime Minister of authoritarianism.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Referring to the recent protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, Poonawalla said that instead of responding with force, the Prime Minister had appealed to society, the police and the public to forgive students who allegedly used abusive language against him and his late mother during demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Poonawalla argued that a dictator would have acted differently and claimed that the Prime Minister’s response reflected restraint rather than authoritarianism. He also contrasted Modi’s approach with what he described as the Congress party’s and opposition-ruled states’ record in dealing with protests and dissent.
The BJP leader’s comments came a day after Prime Minister Modi released a video message urging people to forgive the protesting students despite the alleged personal insults directed at him. The appeal has triggered sharp political reactions, with the opposition accusing the Centre of mishandling the NEET controversy while the BJP has defended the Prime Minister’s remarks as an appeal for reconciliation.
The exchange marks the latest political sparring over the NEET protest issue, which continues to dominate the national debate over examination reforms and the government’s handling of alleged irregularities.
