Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday night urged restraint and forgiveness after a controversy over abusive remarks allegedly made against him during the student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The PM said society should guide those who have gone astray rather than punish them.
In a video message, he said abusive language “never solve anything” and added that the country and the world had witnessed what happened at the protest.
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Abuses never solve anything.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 31, 2026
Let’s guide the misguided.
Let’s work together.
Let’s work for Bharat. pic.twitter.com/yAePG60KYL
The row took a legal turn
The response came amid a police case against Ruchika Singh, a 25-year-old woman from Noida, who was booked a day earlier for allegedly making abusive and objectionable remarks against the prime minister during the protest.
The language was directed at Modi and his late mother over the alleged paper leaks, leading to a police case against the woman.
#BREAKING | PM @narendramodi Forgives Jantar Mantar Protesters Who Abused Him.
— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 31, 2026
'Abuses never solve anything. Let's guide the misguided… I want to forgive them,' says PM Narendra Modi. #PMModi #NarendraModi #Forgiveness #Students pic.twitter.com/fYpG8TsvWg
Mercy, in place of malice
In his message, Modi said that while anger in society over such conduct was understandable, childhood was also a time when mistakes are made and there is an opportunity to learn and reform.
He said that instead of dragging “misguided children” through courts or subjecting them to social harassment, society should embrace them and show them the right path.
Modi also said he wanted to forgive them and appealed to society to accept that sentiment.
The message
The prime minister’s official statement on the PM India website carried the same broad appeal.
It said he had called on people to “guide those who have gone astray” and to work together for Bharat.
The statement also reproduced his X post, which read, “Abuses never solve anything. Let’s guide the misguided. Let’s work together. Let’s work for Bharat.”
The wider examination question
The controversy is linked to the Modi government’s efforts to strengthen India’s examination system.
In a previous video, he said the government was taking steps to build a trustworthy examination system, including fast-track mechanisms and suggestions from states, after Parliament passed a stringent anti-paper leak law.
He said paper leaks had endangered the future of students for decades and argued that reform and greater use of technology had become necessary.
He further said that “paper leak mafias” and gangs involved in leaking examination papers would not be spared, framing the issue as part of a wider effort to protect students and restore trust in the system.
The PM India statement likewise said he had called on youth to learn from mistakes, move forward together for the nation and pursue their dreams.
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FAQs
Q1: Why did PM Modi say “abuses never solve anything”?
PM Narendra Modi made the remark after a controversy over alleged abusive comments against him during a student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, urging people to guide rather than condemn those who have gone astray.
Q2: What did PM Modi say about the students involved in the Jantar Mantar protest?
PM Modi said he wanted to forgive the students and appealed to society to help them learn from their mistakes instead of subjecting them to harassment.