A 15-year-old girl accused of using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar has issued a public apology, saying she deeply regrets her actions and was influenced by those around her. The apology video surfaced hours after Prime Minister Modi said he had decided to forgive the youths who abused him and his late mother during the demonstrations.
In the viral video, Ruchika Singh apologises with folded hands, stating that she was persuaded by other protesters to make the remarks. She says she had visited Connaught Place with a friend when she came across the protest and was encouraged to join in. Admitting that her comments were “very vulgar,” the teenager said she was only 15 years old and described the incident as the “first and last mistake” of her life. She also claimed she never uploaded the video herself and appealed to the nation for forgiveness.
The controversy stems from a 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar organised by the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), where demonstrators demanded the resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. During the protest, videos surfaced showing some participants making abusive remarks against the Prime Minister.
The matter reached the authorities after Ghaziabad-based lawyer Smriti Singh lodged a complaint against the minor, who is a resident of Faridabad. A case was initially registered in Noida under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including intentional insult, public mischief and defamation, before being transferred to the Delhi Police Special Cell.
Addressing the issue on Friday, Prime Minister Modi said the abusive remarks directed at him and his late mother were deeply hurtful but stressed that minors should be given an opportunity to learn from their mistakes rather than face harsh legal consequences.
“Children make mistakes, and childhood is the time when they should be given a chance to correct those mistakes,” the Prime Minister said, appealing to society to accept his decision to forgive them.
Using the analogy of accidentally biting one’s tongue, he urged people not to seek retribution against the youths. He said they had been misguided and called on society to help them reform instead of dragging them into prolonged legal battles or subjecting them to public humiliation.
The Prime Minister concluded by urging young people to learn from the episode, focus on building their future and contribute positively to the nation’s progress, saying that abusive language can never resolve any issue and that those who have gone astray should be guided, not condemned.