New Delhi, Feb. 21 -- Congress MP Manickam Tagore B on Saturday hit back at YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, saying his criticism of the Indian Youth Congress' protest was to seek applause from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had condemned the IYC protest at the India AI Impact Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, against the India-United States trade deal.

Manickam Tagore, in an X post, maintained that criticising the government does not amount to demeaning the country.

Tagore wrote, "Condemning protest to please those in power like Modi and Shah may win applause from rulers -- but it weakens democracy. From Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela, dissent has strengthened nations, n...