Key Takeaways
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for forgiveness of protesters who insulted him.
- The protests, initially over exam paper leaks, turned into a broader expression of frustration.
- Modi suggests mistakes made in youth should be corrected through guidance rather than legal action.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for forgiveness from protesters who abused him during recent youth-led demonstrations against examination paper leaks. The remarks came after the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) mobilised large protests in New Delhi and other cities.
The protests, which began last month, were initially sparked by anger over exam paper leaks but quickly broadened into a wider expression of frustration over unemployment and governance, leading to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Some protesters featured in widely circulated videos shouting insults at the prime minister have since faced online abuse from Modi supporters as well as police complaints. Police have also asked social media platforms like Meta and X to take down what they described as abusive and manipulated content targeting the premier.
In a video posted on Instagram late on Friday, Modi said: 'The country and the world witnessed what happened at Jantar Mantar. Some mischievous youngsters hurled vile abuses. Words were used that do not belong to civilised society — directed not just at me, but even at my late mother … I want to forgive them.'
Modi also suggested that mistakes made in youth should be corrected through guidance rather than legal action, referring to the police cases against protesters.
The protests have posed the biggest challenge to Modi’s government in recent years. Since the protests began, Modi has increasingly used Instagram — the platform on which the CJP built much of its support — to communicate directly with youngsters.
Modi's ruling party has 9.6 million Instagram followers, while the CJP, launched only in May, has more than 26m.
The country and the world witnessed what happened at Jantar Mantar. Some mischievous youngsters hurled vile abuses.
Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister
