New Delhi, July 31 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he had forgiven the students who allegedly abused him and his late mother during the recent protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over alleged NEET irregularities, urging society to guide young people instead of seeking punishment. In a video message shared on Instagram late on Friday, Modi described the protesters as "misguided children" and said taking them to court or subjecting them to social harassment would not help them learn from their mistakes.
Referring to the protest, Modi said abusive language was directed not only at him but also at his late mother. "I want to forgive them. People make mistakes, but it is our duty to show our youth the right path," he said, adding that abusive language could never solve any problem.
The Prime Minister said he understood the anger and pain prevailing in society over the incident, including the language allegedly used by some young women, but appealed for restraint. "These are misguided children, and showing them the way is our responsibility. Punishing them, making them run around the courts, or harassing them in society will not change the situation," he said.
Using an analogy, Modi said people do not break their teeth if they accidentally bite their tongue because both belong to the same body. "The children are also ours," he said, urging society not to abandon young people for their mistakes. Appealing directly to the students, Modi invited them to learn from the episode and contribute to the country's progress. "Come, let us move forward together for the country. Let us learn something new and also learn from our mistakes. I live for you and work for your bright future," he said.
The remarks come amid a wider public debate over the use of abusive and sexist language by a section of Gen Z protesters and the limits of free speech during democratic protests.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.