Archive · 6 Aug 2026
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat: Protesting Gen Z Are Not Anti-National
The leader of a big Indian organization called the RSS spoke to thousands of students at a youth conference in Mumbai.
He said that when young people protest, it does not mean they are against their country.
He called them 'our own people' and said their complaints are real.
In a democracy, he explained, protest is one way to make voices heard and find solutions together.
He said students are worried about problems like exam troubles and want the education system to get better.
He thinks today's young people are more honest than older generations because they ask questions and want clear answers.
He believes education should be affordable and should not be treated like a business.
He also said people should talk calmly to each other to fix problems instead of fighting.
He wants everyone to listen to young people with kindness and respect.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said Gen Z protesters should not be branded anti-national, calling them 'our own people, our next generation.'
Speaking at the 15th anniversary IIMUN conference in Mumbai, he called protest a legitimate democratic method of building consensus.
He said grievances behind recent student demonstrations — over exam paper leaks and education reforms — are genuine and need dialogue.
He praised Gen Z and Gen Alpha as 'more honest' than older generations for questioning authority, and backed a 6% allocation for education.
He said the LGBTQ+ community is part of Indian society but proposed a framework for same-sex companionship rather than same-sex marriage.
- Who
- Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), addressing Gen Z and Gen Alpha students.
- What
- Bhagwat said agitating Gen Z members are not anti-national, defended protest as a democratic way to build consensus, called for dialogue on genuine education grievances, and backed a 6% allocation for education.
- When
- Thursday, August 6, 2026.
- Where
- At the IIMUN Annual Championship Conference at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai, India.
- Why
- To defend young people's right to protest and urge that their concerns — from exam paper leaks to education reform — be addressed through dialogue and democratic processes rather than confrontation.
Youth and protest supporters
Critics of the protest movement
Are Gen Z protesters anti-national?
Youth and protest supporters
Bhagwat says agitating Gen Z are 'not anti-national' — they are 'our own people, our next generation' with genuine grievances over exam paper leaks and education reforms.
Critics of the protest movement
Bhagwat noted reports of 'anti-social modules' within the movement and said conclusions cannot be drawn without authentic information.
Same-sex marriage vs. same-sex companionship
Youth and protest supporters
The LGBTQ+ community is an integral part of Indian society; a separate legal framework should let same-sex partners live together and society will accept such an arrangement.
Critics of the protest movement
Bhagwat does not support same-sex marriage — marriage is a social institution that creates a family, and disrupting existing systems without creating new ones would have consequences.
Police use of force during protests
Youth and protest supporters
Reports said tear gas and pellet guns were used during the protests, raising questions about police action.
Critics of the protest movement
Bhagwat said he lacked verified information and could not draw conclusions, but acknowledged that if something happened that shouldn't have, 'there was a shortcoming' that should be corrected.
- Speaker
- Mohan Bhagwat (Dr Mohan Bhagwat), RSS chief
- Event
- IIMUN Annual Championship Conference, 15th anniversary
- Venue
- Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Mumbai
- Audience
- Around 2,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha students from over 100 cities
- Theme
- The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way
- Background
- Student-led protests in Delhi over exam paper leaks; Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned
- Education demand
- 6% of national budget for education (one report says 6% of GDP)
- LGBTQ stance
- Opposes same-sex marriage; proposes a separate framework for same-sex companionship
Sources
'I will trust Gen Z blindly': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat backs students' right to protest, says youth should be heard
‘Protests Are a Way of Building Consensus in Democracy’: Mohan Bhagwat Interacts With Gen Z, Lauds Their Honesty
'If Gen Z Is Agitating, They Aren't Anti-Nationals': RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Calls For Dialogue With Youth
Bhagwat Backs Gen Z, Says Youth Protests Reflect Demand for System Correction
