Modi Says He Forgives Protesters Who Abused Him Amid Rare Setback

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he wanted to forgive protesters who abused him during recent youth led demonstrations that dealt a rare political setback to his government.

The remarks came after the online Cockroach Janta Party mobilised large protests in New Delhi and other Indian cities over examination paper leaks, posing one of the biggest challenges to Modi’s government in recent years.

Modi’s comments reflect an attempt to project magnanimity following demonstrations that saw large numbers of young Indians take to the streets over concerns about the integrity of national examination processes.

The protests represent a notable moment of youth led political mobilisation in India, with examination paper leaks striking a particular chord among students and families invested in the country’s competitive education system.

Indian political analysts say the scale of the demonstrations caught the government somewhat off guard, prompting a more conciliatory public tone from the Prime Minister than has typically characterised his responses to criticism.

The government has not announced specific policy changes in response to the protests, though the examination integrity concerns raised by demonstrators are expected to remain a live political issue in India in the coming months.