A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had forgiven the 15-year-old girl whose abusive remarks against him during the Jantar Mantar protests sparked nationwide controversy, her mother thanked the Prime Minister for giving her daughter a “new life”. She appealed for the criminal case against the teenager to be withdrawn.
Speaking to PTI, the girl’s mother described Modi’s statement as an act of compassion and said the family was deeply grateful. She urged PM Modi to intervene and ensure that the FIR registered against her daughter is quashed so the teenager could move on with her life.
“By forgiving my daughter despite the offensive words she used, the Prime Minister has shown greatness. Today is like a new birth for her. He has given her jeevandaan (a new life),” she said.
Background
The controversy began after a video from the student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar went viral on social media, showing the teenager using abusive and derogatory language against PM Modi, a woman leader and the PM’s late mother. The clip triggered widespread outrage and led to legal action.
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Following a complaint, the Noida Police registered a Zero FIR and then transferred the matter to the Delhi Police for investigation. However, the girl’s mother claimed the FIR incorrectly identified the accused as “Ruchika Singh”, aged 25, and maintained that both the name and age mentioned in the complaint were inaccurate.
Appealing directly to the Prime Minister, she requested that the case be dropped.
Urges for social media restriction
“We accept that a mistake was committed. I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the FIR registered under the wrong name and age is withdrawn so my daughter can live peacefully. She is now under your protection,” she said.
The mother also urged the Centre to consider restricting access to social media platforms for children below the age of 18, arguing that minors are easily influenced online and can become vulnerable to manipulation.
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“Children should focus on their studies. They should not be exposed to protest sites or social media at such a young age because they can easily be misled. They are still learning about the world and about respecting others,” she said.
Teenager’s apology
The teenager had earlier released a video apology, admitting that she had made a serious mistake. With folded hands, she sought forgiveness from the Prime Minister and the public, saying she regretted using abusive language and claimed she had acted under the influence of others present at the protest.
“I am only 15 years old. What I did is not worthy of forgiveness. I used extremely bad words. This is my first and last mistake. I apologise to the entire country. I feel deeply ashamed and seek everyone’s forgiveness,” she said.
‘Misguided youth’
On Friday (July 31), Modi addressed the controversy through a video message posted on Instagram, saying abusive language could never resolve disagreements and urging society to respond with guidance rather than punishment. Calling the protesters “misguided youth”, Modi said it was society’s responsibility to help them find the right path instead of dragging them into prolonged legal battles.
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“They are misguided children. It is our duty to show them the way. Punishing them, taking them to court and harassing them will not change the circumstances. I have forgiven them, and I appeal to society to do the same,” Modi said.
Following Modi’s video, a section of social media users and political commentators argued that forgiveness from PM Modi was not enough. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke was among those who publicly said the Prime Minister should apologise to protestors who were injured during the alleged police lathicharge on July 20 protest.