'Protesting Gen Z Aren't Anti-National': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Stresses On Addressing Youth's Concerns

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday called for an approach to address issues raised by Gen Z, days after student protests at Jantar Mantar and a Parliament march in New Delhi.

Speaking at a conference titled 'The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way', the RSS chief said, "If the Gen Z is agitating, they certainly aren't anti-nationals; they are our own people, our next generation".

Bhagwat's remarks come days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led protest march to Parliament and activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite fast garnered a nationwide support, prompting the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister over NEET-UG paper leak.

Bhagwat's remarks come days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led protest march to Parliament and activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite fast garnered a nationwide support, prompting the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister over NEET-UG paper leak.

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Bhagwat also backed protests in democracy but with a caution against creation of divisions. "In democracy, protest is also a method to have consensus. Lot of views come together and a consensus is evolved after discussion, that discussion may happen through dialogue. Due to various reasons, if that thing is not heard, agitation can be done. But this is to be done to evolve the consensus, not to create divisions," he said.

Bhagwat also supported the recent concerns raised by the generation over education system. He said, "As far as Gen Z is concerned, what happened recently - their grievance is genuine. A lot needs to be done in India's education system, and it is not being done; so, this is being raised. So, indeed there should be dialogue...As far as my experience about Gen Z goes, when we were their age, we were habitual of accepting whatever the elders said, we never questioned them. Now, Gen Z and Gen Alpha questions, they want logical answers and love...In democracy, this is the method. They call it 'debate' in English, we call it 'shastrarth' - there is no debate there but there are two sides there: 'poorv' and 'uttar'"

Speaking about influence of social media on Gen Z and Gen Alpha and steps to tackle it, the RSS chief said, "Forming rules is alright but it succeeds when attitude changes. Otherwise, there are so many laws already. Laws are effective when society accepts it...One needs to think what they are on social media and people follow what they do. So, it becomes one's responsibility to see that followers do not end up in a bad place by following what ones does (on social media)."

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He also expressed concerns over deepfakes and fake news. Bhagwat said, "Nowadays, the technology is such that fake videos can be generated and false statements can be attributed to you or me. So, while using social media, the content should not be trusted without verification from authentic source. We need to have self-imposed discipline about social media...Otherwise, if you ban something, it lands up in fraud market. This should not happen."