PM Modi Forgives 15-Year-Old Girl After Jantar Mantar Protest Backlash

The controversy began when a demonstration was organized at Jantar Mantar by the Cockroach Janata Party to protest the NEET-UG paper leak. The resulting video spread widely across social media platforms, drawing fierce public condemnation and triggering swift legal action from law enforcement.

Police Investigations, Zero FIRs, and Identity Confusion

The fallout led to immediate police intervention. According to NDTV, a complaint was lodged at a Noida police station, prompting officers to file a zero FIR and transfer the case to the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi. Smriti Singh, who resides in Ghaziabad, had submitted a formal complaint against Ruchika at Noida’s Expressway police station, after which police registered a zero FIR for intentional insult and public nuisance, before transferring the case to New Delhi’s Parliament Street police for further investigation. The initial paperwork created significant confusion regarding the suspect’s identity. The complainant had stated that the girl’s abusive words insulted the PMO, which could spread unrest and disrupt public peace.

However, the girl’s legal representation and subsequent statements strongly disputed those police records. The teenager maintained that she is only 15 years old and lives with her mother while pursuing her education independently, noting that she studies on her own strength and has a desire to build a good career in the future. The discrepancy between official police filings and the minor’s stated age prompted authorities to dig deeper into the investigation.

Public Apology and the Viral Backlash

Faced with mounting pressure and continuous threats, the teenager released a video apologizing for her remarks. She explained that she had gone to Connaught Place with a friend to buy clothes for her birthday and encountered the protest groups, where she was swept up in the hostile rhetoric. She stated that she had taken a cold drink there, and when various groups gathered and began shouting abuse at the Prime Minister, she fell prey to their provocation and repeated those words. She subsequently clarified that she was not under any pressure and had apologized voluntarily and wholeheartedly.

I am only 15 years old, what I did is not forgivable. I spoke very bad things. I feel very ashamed, I can’t even look at myself. Please forgive me. The minor girl, via NDTV

The teenager noted that she had realized her mistake and publicly apologized the very next day. The backlash extended far beyond the digital sphere. She stated that she had not acted under any external pressure but chose to apologize of her own accord, adding that she never imagined the issue would become this large and expressing deep regret.

Prime Minister Modi’s Response and the Mother’s Emotional Reaction

The situation shifted dramatically when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the incident directly. Rather than pursuing punitive measures, it was noted that the Prime Minister forgave the 15-year-old girl who used offensive language during the Jantar Mantar protests, as reported by Loksatta.

The Prime Minister’s decision to forgive the teenager brought immense relief to her family on her birthday. Speaking to reporters in an interview with PTI, the girl’s mother expressed profound gratitude for the gesture, thanking the Prime Minister with folded hands for choosing forgiveness over retribution.

Today is her birthday and Prime Minister Modi has given her the biggest gift, which is a new lease of life. Today my daughter has been reborn. Mother of the minor girl, via Loksatta

Political Pushback Over Criminal Charges

Even as the family sought to move forward, the legal proceedings drew sharp criticism from political figures. The Cockroach Janata Party mounted a vigorous defense against the criminal charges filed in the case, arguing that state machinery should not target a minor.

In his posts, he questioned why police machinery is not instead utilized against criminal MPs belonging to the ruling party, noting that nearly 100 BJP MPs and 50 percent of Lok Sabha members face serious criminal cases, and demanded an immediate halt to the harassment of the young girl while the Delhi Police continue their formal review of the case.