In New Delhi, India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly forgave students who protested against him during the Cockroach protests last month. These protests were sparked by the cancellation of a crucial exam due to leaked questions, affecting over two million students. The movement, which began as a social media campaign, quickly escalated into a mass mobilization, demanding educational reform and the resignation of the education minister. Despite the government's agreement to the protesters' demands, including not pursuing criminal cases against demonstrators, many students faced legal repercussions in states governed by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Modi described the protesting students as 'misled children' and emphasized the need to guide them rather than punish them. He expressed his disappointment over the language used by some protesters, which he found culturally shocking. The protests also led to increased tensions between demonstrators and government forces, resulting in clashes and arrests. The opposition has criticized the government's handling of the situation, calling for accountability from Home Minister Amit Shah, who oversees law enforcement in the capital. The protests have prompted the government to propose stricter penalties for those involved in exam paper leaks, indicating a significant shift in policy in response to public outcry. Overall, the Cockroach protests reflect a growing discontent among the youth in India regarding educational policies and government accountability.
