India's PM Modi defends protesting students as opposition rebukes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for forgiveness of students who took part in a protest at Jantar Mantar, where some used obscene language. He urged society to guide the youths back onto a constructive path.

Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar backed Modi’s stance, saying the government must help wayward students and criticised the Indian National Congress for lacking substantive work.

Opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, attacked Modi’s call for forgiveness, arguing the prime minister should apologise instead. They highlighted broader grievances such as paper leaks, cancelled exams and a broken education system, and raised concerns over alleged police action against demonstrators. AAP senator Sanjay Singh agreed that profanity is unacceptable but questioned why the prime minister’s response came late.