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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he forgives students who directed abusive slogans at him during last month’s nationwide protests over the alleged leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination papers, describing them as “misled children” who should be guided rather than punished.
Speaking in a video message posted on social media on Friday, Modi said those responsible should not face unnecessary legal action despite what he described as “disgusting expletives” directed at him and his late mother during the demonstrations.
“These are misled children. Showing them the right path is our duty. Punishing them, making them run around courts, or tormenting them in society will not change the situation,” he said.
The protests, led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, began in May after authorities cancelled the NEET examination following allegations that question papers had been leaked. More than two million students were required to retake the exam.
Initially launched as a social media campaign calling for education reforms, the movement grew into nationwide demonstrations demanding accountability for the paper leak. The protests ended after the government accepted key demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and pledged not to pursue criminal cases against demonstrators.
However, protest organisers claim that police in several states governed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have continued to file cases against hundreds of participants, particularly after clashes with security forces during rallies.
Student activist Radhika Kumar criticised the Prime Minister’s remarks, accusing the government of ignoring allegations of excessive force against protesters.
“Modi is silent on the brutality unleashed on students in the capital and instead portrays himself as the victim,” she told Al Jazeera.
The movement also alleged that hundreds of students had been arrested despite the government’s earlier commitment to withdraw cases related to the protests.
The opposition has intensified pressure on the government, demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over the handling of the demonstrations and the police response.
The protests have also prompted the government to introduce legislation in Parliament proposing tougher penalties, including longer prison terms and higher fines, for those involved in public examination paper leaks.
Separately, police in Hyderabad have registered a case against Meta India head Arun Srinivas over videos posted on Facebook that allegedly depicted Modi in an abusive manner. A Meta spokesperson said the company was cooperating with the authorities.
India earlier this year tightened its online content rules, requiring digital platforms to remove content deemed unlawful by courts or the government within three hours of receiving an order. Source: Al Jazeera