Congress MPs challenge Mohan Bhagwat’s Gen Z outreach

The criticism follows Bhagwat’s address in Mumbai, where he acknowledged that student grievances regarding the education system are genuine and suggested that protests can serve as a legitimate tool for consensus. However, opposition leaders argue these remarks ignore the harsh reality of campus suppression. MP Manickam Tagore claimed the RSS finds itself on the defensive only after years of installing loyalists in university leadership positions to tighten control over educational institutions.

Other MPs highlighted a disconnect between the RSS chief’s rhetoric and the government’s track record. Imran Masood cited instances of police violence and legal action against student protesters, questioning why such punitive measures were deployed if dialogue was truly valued. Meanwhile, Amar Singh pointed to the closure of roughly 100,000 government schools over the last decade and soaring tuition costs, which he asserts have crippled social mobility. Rajeev Shukla and other party members maintained that unless Bhagwat directs the central government to reform its policies and cease labeling young activists as agitators or goons, his statements remain purely performative.