India, Aug. 4 -- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'forgive children' video message last week, saying the students of the country are in "severe pain" and do not need the latter's forgiveness.

"We are going through a strange time in our country. Students are on the streets, in severe pain. They are asking for fairness in exams and for an education system that works," the Lok Sabha MP said in reference to the recent nationwide protests, mostly by students, sparked by the cancellation of the NEET-UG exam earlier this year.

"On the other side, we have the Prime Minister who is forgiving them. Who is he to forgive them, don't know. But that is what he chooses to do," he added.

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