Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Editorial questions ruling establishment's belated outreach to India's youth
An important leader in India, Mohan Bhagwat, told students that peaceful protests are okay and that young people who protest are not bad people.
Around the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told students at a big college in Delhi that they should always ask questions.
But this news story is an editorial, which is an article that gives an opinion.
The writer says these nice words come late, after student protests were handled roughly by the government.
The article says a protest called the CJP protest led to the education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, stepping down.
Young people were called bad names because they protested, and the writer says that was not fair.
The writer thinks the leaders are saying these kind words now because an election is coming and they want young people's support.
The writer says young people need real help and real solutions to their problems, not just nice speeches.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told students at a Mumbai conference that protests, including the one by the Cockroach Janta Party that forced Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, are a legitimate form of dialogue.
Bhagwat said aggrieved youth were not 'anti-nationals', rejecting the epithet used by the saffron ecosystem to demonise dissenters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged students at IIT Delhi's convocation to question everything.
The editorial calls the remarks welcome but suggests the timing reflects ruling establishment concern over a possible electoral backlash from youth anger.
It argues the Centre mishandled the CJP protest and says youth need concrete policy interventions rather than late reassurances and platitudes.
- Who
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and India's youth, with the Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigning after the CJP protest.
- What
- The ruling establishment made belated remarks to youth—Bhagwat called protests a legitimate form of dialogue and rejected the 'anti-national' label, while Modi urged students to question everything.
- When
- Recently, following the CJP protest that forced Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union education minister.
- Where
- A student conference in Mumbai and the IIT Delhi convocation.
- Why
- The editorial suggests the outreach reflects ruling establishment concern over youth anger and a possible electoral backlash after the mishandling of the CJP protest.
Critical Observers of the Ruling Establishment
Ruling Establishment
Nature of youth protests
Critical Observers of the Ruling Establishment
Student protests are legitimate responses to genuine disaffection, and protesters are not 'anti-nationals'; prior attempts to tarnish and suppress them were wrong.
Ruling Establishment
The RSS chief now says protests are a legitimate form of dialogue, and previously the saffron ecosystem called dissenters 'anti-nationals'.
Timing of the outreach
Critical Observers of the Ruling Establishment
The remarks come late, after the Centre mishandled the CJP protest; leaders did little to restrain the initial high-handed approach, suggesting an election-driven response.
Ruling Establishment
The comments are a welcome interjection, with Modi encouraging students to question everything.
Reassurance vs. action
Critical Observers of the Ruling Establishment
Youth need concrete policy interventions to resolve their challenges; the time for reassurances and platitudes is over.
Ruling Establishment
The political fraternity has 'suddenly woken up' to the importance of youth, with incentives that are 'quite naturally, electoral'.
- RSS chief's statement
- Mohan Bhagwat told students in Mumbai that protests are a legitimate form of dialogue.
- Prime Minister's statement
- Narendra Modi urged students at IIT Delhi's convocation to question everything.
- Education minister
- Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union education minister, as the CJP protest 'forced' his resignation.
- Protest group
- The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which led the agitation.
- Editorial stance
- Remarks are welcome, but the timing is suggestive; the Centre 'mishandled' the CJP protest.
- Electoral concern
- The editorial states the youth's lingering disaffection could have an electoral backlash.