Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has threw his weight behind India's younger generation, saying he would "trust Gen Z blindly" and asserting that students participating in protests should not be branded anti-national, as he called for dialogue instead of confrontation.
Addressing around 2,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha participants at the 15th anniversary celebrations of the India International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) in Mumbai on Thursday, Bhagwat said questioning authority and demanding reforms were legitimate democratic rights.
"If Gen Z engages in any agitation, they are not anti-national. They are our own people; they are our next generation," he said, stressing that meaningful dialogue was possible only when both sides recognised and respected each other.
His remarks come amid a nationwide debate over student protests and the police action against demonstrators at Delhi's Jantar Mantar last month. While acknowledging that he did not know all the facts surrounding the incident, Bhagwat said opinions should not be formed without verified information.
"I will trust Gen Z blindly. But we do not know the reality. We are all speaking based on reports. There are also reports that anti-social elements were present. We cannot reach conclusions without authentic information," he said.
Also read: Court asks Centre to consider shutting Jantar Mantar protest site
Calling protests an essential feature of democracy, the RSS chief said public dissent should be viewed as an attempt to improve institutions rather than oppose the nation.
"Protest is also a means of dialogue. Democracy functions through discussion and consensus. There are genuine grievances, and much needs to be improved in our education system," he said, adding that he would never discourage young people from protesting within democratic norms.
Bhagwat also said Gen Z and Gen Alpha differed from earlier generations because they questioned authority and expected logical answers. "We never used to question authorities, but this generation asks questions, and asks them with affection," he observed.
Beyond the issue of student protests, Bhagwat spoke on leadership, education, social media, national security and LGBTQ rights. He said leadership should focus on creating more leaders rather than followers, argued that education should remain a social responsibility rather than a commercial enterprise, and urged greater public investment in the sector.
On LGBTQ issues, he said same-sex companionship should find social acceptance, though he maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage. He also said differences with countries such as Pakistan and China should not translate into permanent hostility, emphasising that humanitarian values must prevail even amid conflict.
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