Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he bears no grudge against protesters who insulted him during recent youth-led demonstrations, declaring that he has chosen to forgive them despite the harsh criticism directed at him and his late mother.
Modi made the remarks in a video shared on his Instagram page on Friday, weeks after widespread protests over examination paper leaks evolved into a broader movement against unemployment and governance, posing one of the toughest political challenges to his administration in recent years.
The demonstrations, organised largely through the online Cockroach Janta Party movement, drew thousands of young people to New Delhi and other major cities, where several protesters were captured in viral videos chanting abusive slogans against the prime minister.
The protests reportedly triggered police investigations, while authorities also requested social media platforms, including Meta and X, to remove content they described as abusive or manipulated.
Addressing the controversy, the 75 year old leader said the language used against him and his family fell below acceptable standards but insisted he would respond with forgiveness rather than resentment.
According to Modi, youthful mistakes should be corrected through guidance and understanding instead of legal punishment, an apparent reference to complaints filed against some protesters.
The protests, which began over repeated examination paper leaks, later expanded into wider demands for better governance, job opportunities and accountability, eventually leading to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In the wake of the demonstrations, Modi has increasingly turned to Instagram to engage directly with young Indians, the same platform that helped the Cockroach Janta Party build a massive online following.
While Modi’s ruling party commands millions of followers on Instagram, the Cockroach Janta Party, launched only a few months ago, has rapidly emerged as a major online force, attracting an even larger audience and amplifying youth dissatisfaction across the country.