RSS Chief Bhagwat: Gen Z protesters not anti-national, grievances are real
Synopsis
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat broke from the mainstream political narrative on Thursday, publicly defending Gen Z protesters — including those agitating over the NEET paper leak — as honest, patriotic Indians with legitimate grievances. Speaking to over 2,000 students in Mumbai, he called protest a valid democratic tool and urged institutions to listen rather than dismiss.
Key Takeaways
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on 6 August said Gen Z protesters are 'not anti-nationals' and their grievances are genuine.
His remarks came in the context of student-led protests over the alleged NEET paper leak .
Bhagwat called protest 'a way of dialogue' and a legitimate democratic instrument, while cautioning against division.
He spoke before more than 2,000 students at the IIMUN annual conference in Mumbai , marking the organisation's 15th anniversary .
He urged elders and institutions to engage the new generation with reason, affection, and open communication rather than demanding obedience.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday, 6 August defended student-led protests — including those over the alleged NEET paper leak — declaring that Gen Z demonstrators were not anti-national and that their concerns deserved to be heard. Speaking in Mumbai before an audience of more than 2,000 students, Bhagwat called for urgent reforms in India's education system and emphasised the primacy of dialogue.
What Bhagwat Said
'If Gen Z is protesting, they are not anti-nationals. They are our own people, our next generation,' Bhagwat told the gathering. 'I think the new generation — the Gen Z and Gen Alpha — is more honest than our existing generation, and honest appeal of patriotism and service works with them.'
He went further, stating that protest itself is a legitimate democratic instrument. 'A protest is also a way of dialogue,' he said. 'In a democracy, protests are also a way of building consensus. A lot of views come together, and consensus is evolved after discussions.'
On Democracy and Constitutional Methods
While validating the right to protest, Bhagwat also cautioned that agitation must serve consensus-building rather than division. He invoked the Constitution and the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar, noting that democracy has established channels and methods for expressing dissent. 'All these steps should be taken to evolve a consensus, not to create divisions,' he said.
Generational Shift in Leadership
Bhagwat observed a fundamental change in how today's youth engage with authority. 'When we were young, it was an era of obedience. That's not the case anymore,' he remarked. He urged elders and institutions to respond by offering reasoning, affection, and open communication rather than demanding compliance. He also flagged the erosion of meaningful family dialogue due to digital distractions and social media as a concern that needed addressing.
The Platform and Its Context
The remarks were delivered at the inauguration of the annual championship conference of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN), which is marking its 15th anniversary. IIMUN founder Rishabh Shah underscored the event's mission of exposing young minds to diverse ideological streams. 'No matter what the ideology is, when we think about Bharat, everyone needs to come together to build future leaders,' Shah said, citing figures from Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel to Swami Vivekananda and Veer Savarkar.
Bhagwat's comments arrive at a politically charged moment, with student protests over the NEET paper leak controversy having roiled campuses across the country in recent months. The RSS chief's public validation of those protests — and his call for systemic education reform — adds a significant voice to a debate that has so far been dominated by government pushback and legal proceedings.
Point of View
And his framing of Gen Z dissent as honest patriotism — rather than foreign-inspired disruption — diverges sharply from how the ruling establishment has handled the NEET controversy. Whether this signals a genuine internal rethink on youth engagement or is calibrated outreach to a generation the Sangh knows it must win over is the question mainstream coverage is not asking. Either way, his invocation of Ambedkar and constitutional methods alongside a defence of agitation is a carefully constructed message aimed at multiple audiences at once.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat say about Gen Z protesters?
Bhagwat said Gen Z protesters are not anti-national and that their grievances are genuine. Speaking in Mumbai on 6 August, he described the new generation as more honest than older generations and said their appeals to patriotism and service are sincere.
Was Bhagwat's statement related to the NEET paper leak protests?
Yes. His remarks were made in the context of recent student-led protests, including those over the alleged NEET paper leak. He did not condemn the protests; instead, he called them a legitimate form of democratic dialogue.
Where did Mohan Bhagwat make these remarks?
Bhagwat spoke at the inauguration of the annual championship conference of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) in Mumbai, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The audience comprised more than 2,000 students from Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Did Bhagwat place any conditions on the right to protest?
Yes. While validating protest as a democratic tool, Bhagwat cautioned that agitation should aim to build consensus rather than create divisions. He pointed to the Constitution and the ideas of B.R. Ambedkar as the framework within which dissent should operate.
What did Bhagwat say about generational change in India?
Bhagwat observed that today's youth, unlike previous generations, demand reasoning and clarity rather than offering unquestioning obedience. He urged institutions and families to engage young people with logic, affection, and open communication, and warned against the erosion of dialogue due to digital distractions.
