Gen Z protesting "not anti-national", their grievance is genuine: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the grievances behind the recent youth-led protests over the alleged NEET paper leak were genuine and cautioned against branding young protesters as "anti-national", asserting that they are the country's future and deserve to be heard through dialogue.

Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Bhagwat said the relationship between society and the younger generation should be rooted in trust and understanding. "If Gen Z is protesting, they are not anti-national. They are our own people. They are our next generation," he said, stressing that engagement rather than alienation was the appropriate response.

'Grievances are genuine'

Bhagwat said the concerns raised by students reflected deeper issues within India's education system that required attention. "Whatever has happened, the grievance is genuine. A great deal still needs to be done in Indian education, and because those issues remain unresolved, people are raising their voices," he said. He described protests as a legitimate democratic instrument when conventional channels fail to address public concerns.

'Protest is also dialogue'

The RSS chief said demonstrations should be viewed as part of the democratic process rather than as acts of confrontation. "Protest is also a form of dialogue. If issues are resolved through discussion, that is ideal. But if they are not addressed despite being within someone's capacity to resolve, people will naturally raise their voice," he said. He added that democratic debate allows multiple perspectives to emerge, helping society move closer to the truth through discussion and exchange of ideas.

Youth seek logical answers

Comparing generations, Bhagwat said today's youth are more questioning than previous generations and expect reasoned explanations instead of unquestioned authority. "When we were young, we accepted what our elders told us without asking questions. Gen Z and Gen Alpha ask questions because they want logical answers," he said. He also described the younger generation as more honest in many respects, adding that appeals based on patriotism and public service continue to resonate strongly with them.

Calls for systemic reforms

Bhagwat said the purpose of public agitations should be to improve institutions rather than target individuals. "Young people are raising their voice because they have concerns, and those concerns should be addressed. Agitations should be aimed at correcting the system, not directed against any particular individual," he said. He acknowledged that if situations escalate into widespread protests, it indicates shortcomings somewhere within the system that need to be rectified.

Declines comment on police action

Asked about allegations of lathi charges and the reported use of pellet guns during recent student demonstrations, Bhagwat said he did not have sufficient information to comment on whether the actions were justified. He said the reasons behind such incidents would have to be examined before any conclusions could be drawn.