India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly forgiven the students who hurled expletives at him during last month's Cockroach protests, calling them "misled children" who need guidance rather than punishment. The statement, delivered in a video posted on social media late Friday, comes amid a widening crackdown on demonstrators in states ruled by his own party, with hundreds facing criminal cases despite government promises of leniency. Main Developments Modi's remarks, shared late Friday, frame the protesters as victims of misinformation rather than criminals. "These are misled children. Showing them the right path is our duty. Punishing them, making them run around courts, or tormenting them in society will not change the situation," he said, adding that "disgusting expletives" were aimed at him and his late mother. His tone of forgiveness, however, has not matched the actions of state authorities. Despite the government's pledge not to pursue criminal cases, police in BJP-ruled states have filed charges against hundreds of demonstrators, particularly after clashes with security forces and slogans targeting the prime minister. Read also: Broad Peak Avalanche: Rescue Teams Recover Four Bodies The movement itself claims "hundreds" of students have been arrested in various states, a direct contradiction of the central government's commitment to dropping cases. Opposition parties have seized on this discrepancy, demanding the removal of Home Minister Amit Shah, who oversees law and order in Delhi. Separately, Hyderabad police have registered a case against the head of Meta India, Arun Srinivas, over videos on Facebook that depicted Modi in an "abusive manner," according to a senior police officer. Meta has said it is cooperating with authorities. Background The Cockroach protest movement emerged in May after a crucial national exam was voided due to leaked questions, forcing over two million students to resit the test the following month. The movement's name originated from a Supreme Court chief justice's remark describing unemployed youths and activists as "cockroaches." What began as a social media campaign using viral memes quickly escalated into mass demonstrations, with tens of thousands gathering in New Delhi and similar protests spreading to cities across India. The protests ended only after the government agreed to all demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. During the protests, security forces in New Delhi used tear gas, pellet shotguns, and baton charges against marchers attempting to reach parliament. The government also introduced a bill to amend public examination legislation, proposing longer prison terms and higher fines for exam paper leaks. Why It Matters Modi's public forgiveness contrasts sharply with the experiences of protesters on the ground, many of whom are young women facing online abuse and legal threats. Supporters of the prime minister's far-right Hindu nationalist politics have doxed female protesters, including teenagers, subjecting them to rape and death threats. The disconnect between Modi's conciliatory words and the actions of his party's state governments raises questions about the sincerity of the government's promises. As one Delhi University student, Radhika Kumar, put it: "Modi is mute on the brutality unleashed on students in the capital and comes on Instagram to victimise himself." The episode also highlights the growing tension between digital activism and state power, particularly with new rules requiring platforms to remove unlawful content within three hours of a government or court order, down from 36 hours since February. What's Next The opposition is likely to continue pressing for Amit Shah's removal, while the movement monitors the status of arrested students. The government's proposed amendments to exam legislation remain pending in parliament, and the case against Meta India's head could set a precedent for how social media platforms handle political content. Whether Modi's forgiveness translates into actual legal relief for the accused protesters remains an open question, as does the fate of the doxing and abuse campaigns targeting young women. The next steps will test whether the government's words align with its actions.