The Congress party has criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a joke he made on a suicide note. The comment was made during a media conclave, where Modi shared a joke about a professor who was upset over his daughter’s suicide note containing a spelling mistake, despite his efforts to teach her for many years. The joke was made while remarking on the editor-in-chief of the channel’s improving Hindi skills.
The Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, hit out at the Prime Minister, saying that mental health issues should not be ridiculed in such an insensitive manner. Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Thousands of families lose their children to suicide, and the Prime Minister should not make fun of them.”
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary, tweeted that depression and suicide are not a laughing matter, especially among the youth. She cited National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data indicating that over 164,000 Indians committed suicide in 2021, with a significant percentage below the age of 30.
The Congress party shared the video of Modi’s remarks on social media, criticizing the Prime Minister for his insensitivity. They also pointed out that in 2021, over 450 people per day were forced to commit suicide in India.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also criticized Modi, saying that his joke showed an insensitive disregard for human life. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted that the Prime Minister should be leading the change in sensitizing the nation towards depression and mental health issues, rather than mocking their plight.
The Live Love Laugh Foundation, a mental health organization founded by Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, also tweeted in response to Modi’s joke, reminding people to be sensitive to those dealing with mental health issues.
The criticism of Modi’s remarks shows a growing awareness in India about the importance of mental health and the need to address this issue with sensitivity and empathy. The Prime Minister’s joke is a reminder that there is still much work to be done in promoting mental health awareness and combating the stigma associated with mental illness.