Mohan Bhagwat Says Gen-Z Protests Are Not Anti-National, Calls for Education Reforms

Following the Jantar Mantar protest, RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) president Mohan Bhagwat made a significant outreach to Gen Z on Thursday, stating that concerns about India’s education system were genuine and that agitation was a valid form of discourse in a democracy.

He rejected attempts to label today’s youth as anti-national, called them “more honest” than earlier generations, and said that dialogue is necessary for educational reforms.

Bhagwat added that preaching to others, winning elections, or delivering speeches are not the goals of leadership.

“You see, the first step in leadership is to lead from within and set an example. When we hear the term ‘leadership,’ we imagine someone standing in front of an audience, making speeches, winning elections, or preaching. That is not how it works. Those who stay behind and work from within are real leaders,” he said.

Bhagwat Highlights Need For Reforms

When asked whether the government should have engaged with Gen Z earlier, Bhagwat responded,

“Protest is also a form of dialogue. Discussion is necessary in any democracy. You have to find a solution. If that does not happen, then I will raise my voice. Therefore, protest is a means of building consensus through discourse and discussion in a democracy. When this does not happen, protests are encouraged. However, it is a means of fostering consensus, not dividing people.”

Bhagwat was speaking with Rishabh Shah, founder-president of IIMUN, a private organisation that organises Model United Nations (MUN) events. The meeting, held at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, was attended by over 2,000 “Gen Z and Gen Alpha” participants.