New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday used the centenary celebrations of Delhi’s prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) to deliver a strong message to India’s Gen-Z, urging young citizens to develop an ambitious vision for a developed India while recalling how the country navigated a series of unprecedented crises under his leadership.
Addressing students at the college, PM Modi also sharpened his criticism of his political opponents by reviving his recent reference to “dimagi Naxals”. Drawing an analogy with homeopathic treatment, the Prime Minister said his use of the term had prompted those he described as promoting such an “illness” to reveal themselves.
“You may have heard my speech from Red Fort. I gave a homeopathic pill from the Red Fort, dimagi Naxal,” PM Modi said. He added that, according to the principles of homeopathy, symptoms could initially intensify during treatment. “Similarly, as soon as I gave the ‘dimagi Naxal’ homeopathic pill, all the ‘dimagi Naxals’ started coming out one after another,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s central message, however, focused on India’s development journey and the challenges the country has confronted over the years. He urged students to look back at earlier crises and assess how governments responded to them.
Recalling the 2013 Kedarnath disaster, PM Modi questioned the preparedness and response of the then government, saying the administration was “shaken” and struggled to determine how to respond.
He also criticised the handling of the 2008 global financial crisis, claiming that the banking system had subsequently been pushed towards the brink of collapse.
In contrast, PM Modi highlighted the multiple global disruptions faced during his tenure, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global supply chains and the continuing crisis in West Asia.
Despite predictions that these challenges would severely damage India, he said the country continued to move forward with the strength of its people.
PM Modi’s interaction with SRCC carried added significance as he had visited the institution in 2013, when he was Gujarat Chief Minister. His earlier address had subsequently attracted considerable attention ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, however, accused the Prime Minister of turning an opportunity for dialogue with young people into another political campaign.
