Shafaqna Pakistan: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was willing to “forgive” protesters who directed abusive remarks at him during recent youth-led demonstrations that posed a rare political challenge to his government.
His comments followed large-scale protests organised by the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi and several other cities over examination paper leaks, marking one of the most significant public challenges to Modi’s administration in recent years.
According to local media reports, several protesters seen in widely shared videos shouting insults at the prime minister have since been subjected to online harassment by Modi supporters and have also faced police complaints.
Police have additionally asked social media platforms, including Meta and X, to remove content they described as abusive or manipulated that targeted 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 on 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.”
Modi also said “mistakes made in youth” should be corrected through guidance rather than legal action, referring to the police cases.
The protests that began last month were initially sparked by anger over examination paper leaks.
But they broadened into a wider expression of frustration over unemployment and governance, culminating in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
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.
Source: Dawn News
