Bhagwat’s outreach to GenZ sparks slugfest
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks defending Gen Z protesters as “not anti-national” triggered sharp political reactions on Friday, with the Congress accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of running the government from behind the scenes, while Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah welcomed Bhagwat’s distinction between opposing the government and opposing the nation
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat recently defended Gen Z protesters against accusations of being "anti-national," sparking political controversy. The Congress accused the RSS of pulling strings behind the scenes of the government, while Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah endorsed Bhagwat's distinction between protesting the government and opposing the nation.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported Bhagwat's comments, considering them positive. Bhagwat made these remarks during a speech to over 2,000 students in Mumbai, following student-led protests over alleged NEET paper leak leading to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Bhagwat stated that Gen Z protesters are "our own people, our next generation," and that an "honest appeal of patriotism and service" resonates with them.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal accused Bhagwat of acting as the RSS's puppet, urging him to resign if he truly cared for Gen Z. Congress leaders also questioned Bhagwat's silence on student atrocities and linked his remarks to Rahul Gandhi's claims that the RSS controls the education system. The BJP, Karnataka chief minister Priyank Kharge, and others defended Bhagwat's stance, emphasizing the importance of honoring democratic principles and respecting young people's right to protest responsibly.
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