Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has said he is willing to forgive demonstrators who insulted him during recent youth-led protests that posed one of the most significant political challenges to his administration in years.
The demonstrations, organised by the online Cockroach Janta Party, drew thousands to the streets of New Delhi and several other cities over examination paper leaks, exposing growing public frustration with the government.
Videos showing protesters hurling insults at the prime minister spread widely on social media.
According to local media, some of those featured in the clips later became targets of online harassment by Modi supporters and also faced police complaints.
Authorities have also instructed social media platforms, including Meta and X, to remove content they described as abusive or manipulated and directed at the prime minister.
“The country and the world witnessed what happened at Jantar Mantar. Some mischievous youngsters hurled vile abuses,” Modi, 75, said in a video posted on Instagram late Friday.
“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.”
The prime minister added that young people should be guided rather than punished for their actions, saying “mistakes made in youth” should be corrected through guidance instead of legal action, in reference to the police cases.
The protests, which erupted last month over widespread examination paper leaks, gradually evolved into broader demonstrations against unemployment and concerns over governance.
The growing unrest eventually led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Since the protests began, Modi has increasingly turned to Instagram—the same platform the CJP used to rally support—to engage directly with young people.
Modi’s ruling party currently has 9.6 million followers on Instagram, while the CJP, established only in May, has amassed more than 26 million followers.
