Indian Prime Minister Modi has said he wants to forgive students who shouted abusive slogans against him during nationwide protests triggered by the country’s examination paper leak scandal, arguing that punishment alone would not resolve the underlying issues.

In a video message released on social media late Friday, Narendra Modi described the protesting students as “misled children” and urged society to support a more compassionate approach instead of prolonging legal action against them. He said forcing young people to repeatedly appear before courts would not help address the crisis.

More than 100 words into his remarks, Modi emphasised that guiding students back onto the right path was the government’s responsibility. He said he hoped society would support his decision to forgive those involved in the protests rather than continue legal proceedings against them.

India’s largest political crisis of Modi’s third term erupted in July after the leak of national examination papers forced authorities to conduct a fresh test for nearly 2 million students. The incident sparked widespread protests, with demonstrators accusing the government of failing to ensure transparency and equal opportunities for young people.

Authorities filed cases against hundreds of protesters after demonstrations turned violent in several cities. In New Delhi, security forces used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds attempting to march toward Parliament.

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The student-led movement, organised by the self-styled Cockroach Janta Party, claimed that hundreds of demonstrators were arrested despite the government’s earlier commitment to withdraw police cases against protesters.

The protests eventually ended after the education minister resigned and the government accepted key demands from student groups, including reforms to the national examination system and the withdrawal of cases against demonstrators.

In response to the controversy, the Modi government has introduced legislation in Parliament proposing stricter penalties for examination paper leaks, including longer prison sentences and heavier financial penalties for those found responsible.

The proposed reforms aim to strengthen the integrity of India’s public examination system and restore confidence among millions of students following one of the country’s largest education-related controversies.