Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he forgives the students who shouted abuse at him during the so-called Cockroach protests last month. He described the protesters as children who had been misled and said they should be guided toward what he called the right path.
His remarks shift attention from the confrontation itself to how the government and its supporters are responding to student dissent. By framing the protesters as misguided rather than as enemies, Modi presented his response as one of pardon rather than punishment.
At the same time, the episode has been accompanied by a harsher reaction online. According to reports, some of Modi's supporters have targeted protesters on social media, including through abuse and doxxing, raising concerns about the treatment of students after the demonstrations.
The comments add to the wider debate in India over protest, political criticism and the line between public disagreement and intimidation. Modi's statement may calm some tensions, but scrutiny is likely to remain on how protesters are discussed and targeted in the digital space.
