Even my late mother was abused at Jantar Mantar, but we must forgive 'our misguided children': PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 31 said he was deeply pained that even his late mother was subjected to abusive and offensive language during protests at Jantar Mantar, but urged society to forgive young people who may have been “misguided” and help guide them towards the right path.

In a late-night video message posted on Instagram, Modi said he understood the anger and anguish prevailing in society but stressed that the response should be to embrace young people, help them learn from their mistakes and encourage them to contribute to the country’s progress.

The prime minister said he was addressing the youth following the protests against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination at Jantar Mantar, during which some protesters allegedly used abusive language against him.

“Not only was I subjected to abusive language at Jantar Mantar, but even my late mother was abused there with filthy language. But abuses never solve anything; let us guide those who have been misguided,” Modi said.

He said he wanted to forgive those who had used offensive language, describing them as “our children” and asserting that it was society’s responsibility to show young people the right path.

“People make mistakes, but it was a cultural shock that our daughters were using such abusive language. We must forgive our youth who were misguided; after all, they are our children. It is our duty to show them the right path,” he said.

Drawing an analogy, Modi said people do not disown their teeth even when they accidentally bite the tongue because both are part of the same body. Similarly, he said, the country’s youth belonged to the nation and should not be rejected when they made mistakes.

“We do not disown our teeth even if they bite our tongue; both belong to us. In the same way, our youth are our own,” he said.

The prime minister appealed to young people to acknowledge their mistakes, learn from them and move forward with the country.

“Our country is moving forward, and they too must move ahead with it,” Modi said, adding that the government’s focus was on ensuring a brighter future for the youth.

He said there was always scope for correction during one’s younger years and that society should respond with guidance rather than punishment.

“I fully understand the anguish in society. This is the time to show these children the correct path by embracing them,” Modi said.

The prime minister argued that taking young people to court or publicly shaming them would not resolve the situation.

“The situation cannot be changed by dragging such children into courts or parading them before society. Sometimes people go astray, but that does not mean they should be punished. The children are ours, and it is our responsibility to show them the correct path,” he said.

Modi urged the young protesters to come forward, work for the country, acquire new skills and learn from their experiences.

“The country is progressing well. Move forward, and you too will progress. This is my dream. I live for you and work for your bright future. Let us move forward, take the country ahead and learn from our mistakes,” he said.

The students’ protest at Jantar Mantar was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and began on June 20. The agitation continued for 36 days and ended on July 25 after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister and the government’s acceptance of the protesters’ demands.

The protest drew the participation of thousands of students across the country and received support from several major opposition parties.

The agitation also led to a large march towards Parliament on July 20, during which police used force, including lathicharge and tear gas, to control the protesters.

Following three rounds of discussions, the CJP and the government reached an agreement on July 25, after which the protest was called off. The Congress, however, criticised Modi’s remarks, saying the country was seeking an apology from the prime minister but that he had instead chosen to “forgive” the country.

Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, reacting to Modi’s video on X, said, “Listen to this. The country is asking him to apologise, yet he has forgiven the country.”