Modi says he forgives protesters who abused him during exam leak demonstrations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated he wishes to forgive the "mischievous youngsters" who hurled "vile abuses" at him during recent youth-led protests. The demonstrations, which posed a rare political setback for his government, were initially triggered by anger over leaked examination papers but broadened to encompass frustrations with unemployment and governance.

Modi, speaking in a video posted on Instagram, noted that the insults were directed not only at him but also at his late mother. He suggested that "mistakes made in youth" should be corrected through guidance, not legal action, referencing police complaints filed against some protesters. Online abuse from Modi supporters and police requests to social media platforms to remove "abusive and manipulated content" targeting the prime minister have followed the demonstrations.

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The country and the world witnessed what happened at Jantar Mantar. Some mischievous youngsters hurled vile abuses. 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 protests gained significant traction, with the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) mobilizing large gatherings in New Delhi and other cities. The CJP, launched in May, has amassed over 26 million Instagram followers, significantly outnumbering Modi's ruling party's 9.6 million followers on the platform. Modi has increasingly utilized Instagram to communicate directly with young people since the protests began.

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mistakes made in youth