Modi: Punishing protesting students will not solve the problem

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would like to pardon students who hurled abusive abuse at him during protests that erupted last month, noting that punishing them and forcing them to repeatedly appear in court would not help resolve the crisis.

The political crisis in Modi’s third term peaked in July after a nationwide leak of exam papers led to the re-administration of the test to two million students, fueling anger over the limited opportunities available to young Indians.

Authorities filed lawsuits against hundreds of protesters after some clashed with security forces and directed abusive chants at the prime minister. In a video posted late Friday on social media, Modi said, “These are children who have gone astray. It is our duty to guide them back to the right path. Punishing them, forcing them to shuttle between courts, or harassing them in society will not change the situation.”

Tensions flared between protesters and security forces in several parts of the country during the demonstrations, including New Delhi, where individuals attempting to head toward Parliament were met with tear gas and baton charges.

The “Kukrotch Janta – People of the Cockroaches,” which named itself and led the movement, said on Monday that “hundreds” of students had been arrested in various states, in violation of the government’s commitment to drop cases filed by police against protesters.

Young protesters ended weeks-long demonstrations after the education minister resigned and the government accepted all demands, which included reforms to the examination system and the dropping of police cases.

The protests also prompted Modi’s government to introduce a bill in Parliament to amend laws governing public examinations, proposing longer prison sentences and higher fines for those involved in leaking exam papers.