Can PM Modi reconnect with India's Gen Z?
Student protests exposed a growing disconnect between PM Narendra Modi's BJP and young Indians. Experts say Instagram reels alone won't close it.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has acknowledged the need to better connect with India's Gen Z population in the wake of recent student protests. In a series of Instagram video messages, Modi expressed sympathy for the students' grievances over a cancelled medical entrance exam and pledged further action. However, despite five reels following the initial video, the gap in communication with the youth appears to persist.
Critics argue that Modi's efforts lack sincerity and fail to address the systemic issues facing India's youth. Experts highlight a worrying trend of declining youth representation in politics and a growing crackdown on dissent, particularly on social media. The BJP's ruling party has been criticized for its inorganic attempts to appeal to Gen Z, with political scientists suggesting that the party's reliance on social media tactics will ultimately come across as insincere.
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