Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is scheduled to interact with Generation Z and Generation Alpha students on 6 August in Mumbai, but Congress leaders on Tuesday expressed scepticism about the exercise, arguing that young Indians have drifted well beyond the RSS's sphere of influence.

What Congress Said

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat acknowledged the value of dialogue in principle but questioned whether this particular interaction would yield results. 'It is a good thing. Dialogue is important and should always take place. In a democracy, dialogue has great significance. However, such dialogue should be open and should not be an attempt to impose one’s views on others,' he said. He added that given Bhagwat’s past remarks about Gen Z — particularly on cultural matters — he did not expect the session to prove 'very fruitful.'

Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh went further, claiming electoral evidence backed the party’s position. 'Now, Gen Z has moved beyond their sphere of influence. Whether you look at the results in Madhya Pradesh or Patna, it was Gen Z voters who defeated them,' he said.

BJP and Shiv Sena Push Back

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam defended the initiative, saying such outreach is standard RSS practice. 'Revered RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has always engaged in discussions with people of all age groups, from young children to youth. This is not a new initiative,' Kadam said, noting that RSS shakhas already operate separate units for children, youth, and senior citizens.

Shiv Sena leader Shaina N.C. also welcomed the interaction, saying the RSS has been engaging with Gen Z and millennials for the past two to three years. She said topics at the upcoming session would include jobs, artificial intelligence (AI), social media, identity, and nationalism — issues she described as central to young people today.

The Event: What Is I.I.M.U.N.

Bhagwat’s address will serve as the inaugural event of the 15th Annual Championship Conference of India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (I.I.M.U.N.). The conference will bring together more than 2,000 high school students aged 15 to 19 from over 100 cities across India. The theme is 'The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way.'

The session is designed to give young leaders a platform to debate local, national, and international issues, and Bhagwat’s address will formally open several days of student-led discussions and policy deliberations.

Why This Moment Matters

The interaction comes at a politically charged moment. Opposition parties have increasingly sought to position Gen Z — a demographic that came of voting age during or after the 2019 general election — as a constituency that is sceptical of cultural nationalist messaging. The RSS, for its part, has been visibly expanding its youth outreach, with Bhagwat himself leading several such engagements in recent years. Whether Tuesday’s political pushback translates into any measurable shift in youth sentiment remains to be seen.