Narendra Modi says he forgives protesters who insulted him as youth-led demonstrations over exam paper leaks evolve into a wider movement against unemployment and governance.

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he wants to forgive protesters who hurled insults at him during recent youth-led demonstrations that posed one of the biggest political challenges to his government in recent years.

Speaking in a video posted on Instagram late Friday, the 75-year-old prime minister said the protesters were misguided young people who deserved guidance rather than punishment.

“The country and the world witnessed what happened at Jantar Mantar. Some mischievous youngsters used abusive language that does not belong in a civilised society,” Modi said. He added that the insults targeted not only him but also his late mother.

“I want to forgive them,” the prime minister said, stressing that mistakes made during youth should be corrected through guidance instead of legal action.

The protests were organised by the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and spread across New Delhi and several other cities. Initially triggered by public anger over examination paper leaks, the demonstrations later expanded into broader protests over unemployment, governance, and government accountability.

The movement ultimately led to the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marking a significant political setback for Modi’s administration.

According to local media reports, some protesters who appeared in viral videos shouting slogans against the prime minister later faced online harassment from Modi supporters, while police also registered complaints against several participants.

Authorities additionally requested social media platforms, including Meta and X, to remove content they described as abusive or manipulated and directed at the prime minister.

Since the protests began, Modi has increasingly used Instagram to engage directly with young people—the same platform where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gained much of its popularity.

While Modi’s ruling party has around 9.6 million Instagram followers, the CJP, launched only in May, has reportedly attracted more than 26 million followers, highlighting its rapid rise on social media.