‘No certificate needed’: Priyanka Gandhi reacts to Bhagwat’s Gen Z remarks
Congress leader also targets Union home minister Amit Shah over his absence from Parliament, alleging that he is avoiding accountability
A fresh political exchange erupted on Friday after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat voiced support for Gen Z protesters, with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra dismissing the remarks and saying young people do not need anyone’s endorsement to validate their concerns.
Bhagwat, in an interaction with young audiences in Mumbai on Thursday, had defended the grievances of Gen Z, saying their concerns were genuine and their protests should not be viewed through the lens of nationalism. He emphasised that dissent and dialogue were essential pillars of a democracy and that protests should ultimately help build consensus rather than deepen divides.
Responding to questions on Bhagwat’s remarks, Priyanka Gandhi said, “They don't need a certificate from Mohan Bhagwat ji,” while speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex.
She also targeted Union home minister Amit Shah over his absence from Parliament, alleging that he was avoiding accountability. Referring to the alleged police action against students during a 20 July protest over the paper leak issue, she said the minister should come forward, make a statement and take responsibility.
Bhagwat, addressing around 2,000 members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha at an event organised by the India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN), said the issues raised by young people over the education system deserved attention.
“Protest is also a way of dialogue,” he said, adding that democratic disagreements should lead to discussion and consensus. He asserted that young protesters were not “anti-national” but represented the aspirations and concerns of the next generation.
The RSS chief also called for greater focus on education, advocating an increase in public spending on the sector to 6 per cent of GDP. He said genuine concerns, if left unheard, could lead people towards agitation, but the ultimate goal should remain dialogue and social harmony.
Bhagwat’s outreach to Gen Z and Gen Alpha comes amid heightened debate over student protests linked to alleged exam paper leaks and concerns surrounding the education system. The government’s handling of demonstrations, including a July 20 march in Delhi that saw clashes between protesters and police, has drawn criticism from opposition parties and other groups.
The remarks have added another layer to the political contest over youth issues, with both the ruling establishment and opposition seeking to address the growing voice of India’s younger generation.
With PTI inputs