A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that Gen Z should not be labelled "anti-national" and described them as "our people," opposition leaders and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke urged him to ensure that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopt the same approach.
Reacting to Bhagwat's remarks, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the RSS chief, regarded as a mentor to the BJP, should communicate the same message to the party leadership. "The most important part of Mohan Bhagwat's statement was that Gen Z should not be labelled 'anti-national'. Since he acts as a mentor to the BJP, I would like him to convey this same message to the BJP and Narendra Modi," Dipke said.
He further expressed hope that the BJP would heed Bhagwat's words, adding that it would be difficult for the party to disregard the RSS chief's position.
Congress leaders remained unconvinced by Bhagwat's outreach, arguing that the RSS must back its words with action. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remarked: "They don't need a certificate from Mohan Bhagwat ji." Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal questioned the Centre's response to the police action against students during the CJP-led march to Parliament on July 20.
"If he has any sincerity towards Gen Z, let him ask the Union Home Minister to resign or at least apologise to the students in Parliament," Venugopal said. He also accused the RSS of exercising influence over the government while remaining silent on allegations of excessive force against student protesters.
Speaking at an interaction with more than 2,000 students in Mumbai, Mohan Bhagwat stressed that young protesters should not be branded anti-national. "If Gen Z engages in any agitation, they are not anti-national. They are our own people; they are our next generation. A sense of belonging and mutual respect is needed for dialogue to take place," Bhagwat said. He added that meaningful conversations could only happen through mutual respect and understanding.
Azad Samaj Party president Chandrashekhar Azad said the BJP's rhetoric often differed from that of the RSS. Referring to recent comments by BJP leaders questioning student protesters, Azad said the real issue was growing frustration among the youth over unemployment. He argued that instead of questioning protesters' patriotism, the government should focus on addressing the concerns driving young people to the streets.
Bhagwat's remarks have triggered a fresh political debate, with opposition parties demanding that the BJP align its messaging with the RSS chief's call for dialogue and refrain from branding protesting students as anti-national. The comments have also renewed scrutiny over the government's handling of recent student demonstrations and its engagement with India's younger generation.
