Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Raja Challenges Modi Over Education Budget and Political Attacks
D Raja criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using a school event to make political attacks.
The event took place at Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi on Teachers’ Day.
Raja said Modi should focus on the problems faced by teachers and students.
He asked Modi whether the education budget had fallen during his time in office.
Raja also said people should be allowed to question the government.
Modi had defended his government’s economic record at the event.
He said India had improved from being part of the “Fragile Five” in 2013 to becoming the fastest-growing major economy.
The two leaders therefore presented different views about the government’s performance and how criticism should be handled.
CPI general secretary D Raja accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making political attacks during his Teachers’ Day address at SRCC.
Raja asked Modi to explain by what percentage the Union government’s education budget had fallen during his tenure.
Raja said teachers and students’ concerns should be addressed instead of critics being called “dimagi naxals.”
Modi defended India’s economic progress, contrasting its 2013 “Fragile Five” position with its status as the fastest-growing major economy.
At the SRCC event, Modi also cited 7.8 per cent economic growth and projects including UPI, high-speed trains and the Statue of Unity.
- Who
- CPI general secretary D Raja and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- Raja questioned Modi over the Union education budget and criticized political remarks made during Modi’s Teachers’ Day address.
- When
- The remarks were reported on Sunday, September 6; Modi’s address took place the previous day on Teachers’ Day.
- Where
- Shri Ram College of Commerce at Delhi University in New Delhi.
- Why
- Raja said Modi should address teachers’ and students’ concerns rather than attack critics, while Modi was defending the government’s economic record and initiatives.
Raja’s Criticism
Modi’s Defense
Focus of the Teachers’ Day address
Raja’s Criticism
Raja said Modi should address the real concerns of teachers and students instead of making political attacks.
Modi’s Defense
Modi used the address to defend the government’s record and criticize opponents who questioned its claims.
Government performance
Raja’s Criticism
Raja alleged that the government had manipulated or misrepresented economic data and said its failures justified continued questioning.
Modi’s Defense
Modi highlighted 7.8 per cent growth and said India had moved from the 2013 “Fragile Five” to being the fastest-growing major economy.
Treatment of dissent
Raja’s Criticism
Raja said dissent could not be criminalized and that critics should not be silenced through labels such as “dimagi naxals.”
Modi’s Defense
Modi said those who reacted to his “dimagi naxal” remark had exposed themselves and referred to critics of government initiatives as “naraaz phoopa.”
- Main critic
- D Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India
- Prime minister
- Narendra Modi
- Event
- Teachers’ Day address at Shri Ram College of Commerce
- Education budget question
- Raja asked by what percentage the Union government’s education budget had fallen during Modi’s tenure
- Economic growth cited
- Modi cited 7.8 per cent economic growth
- Economic comparison
- Modi contrasted India’s 2013 “Fragile Five” position with its current status as the fastest-growing major economy
- Projects cited by Modi
- UPI, high-speed trains and the Statue of Unity