RSS Chief and Opposition Leaders Engage in Youth Outreach Following Student Protests

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat told an audience of approximately 2,000 students in Mumbai on Thursday that youth who protest are not anti-national. Bhagwat stated that the grievances of Gen Z are genuine and that protest is a legitimate form of dialogue in a democracy. His comments follow nationwide student protests that led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25. These protests were sparked by alleged mismanagement of competitive examinations and the NEET-UG paper leak. Bhagwat acknowledged that the education system has shortcomings and called for greater public investment, suggesting that 6 percent of the national budget be spent on education.

Simultaneously, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a youth outreach campaign titled Chhatron ki Goonj. Gandhi has held events in Kota and Dehradun and is planning a rally in Prayagraj, though the venue booking was recently cancelled. In an Instagram Ask Me Anything session, Gandhi asserted that the national education system has collapsed and is unaffordable and oppressive. He specifically criticized the government for its handling of student protests, alleging that the Modi government suppresses the voice of youth through police action and pellet guns.

Political tensions have extended to the Rajya Sabha, where the monsoon session has been disrupted by Opposition demands for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the use of pellet guns and police excesses during the July 20 protests. Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan requested that Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju convey the sentiments of the Opposition to Shah. Minister Rijiju defended the Home Minister, stating that the Opposition prevents the House from functioning.

While center-right sources emphasize the disruptions caused by the Opposition in Parliament and the constructive nature of the RSS outreach, left-leaning sources highlight the severity of the police crackdown and the ongoing harassment of students. Center-leaning sources provide broader context, including the specific irregularities in the NEET-UG paper leak and the ongoing legal and administrative struggles of students in coaching hubs like Prayagraj.