I trust Gen Z blindly, don't know what happened between cops, protesters: RSS chief

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat backed Gen Z and Gen Alpha, saying he would "trust Gen Z blindly" and that students have every democratic right to protest, question authority, and demand reforms.Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday expressed confidence in India's younger generation, saying he would "trust Gen Z blindly" while asserting that students have every right to protest for a better system.Speaking at an event, Bhagwat said he did not know the exact circumstances surrounding the recent confrontation between police and protesters, but maintained that his faith in young people remained unwavering."I will trust Gen Z blindly," Bhagwat said, adding that he believed in the intentions and aspirations of the country's youth.Referring to youth protests and democratic dialogue, Bhagwat said protest is one of the means of dialogue in a democracy."Democracy is a way to make consensus after discussion. Grievance is genuine and a lot has to be improved in our nation's education system. So dialogue is important," he said.Bhagwat said earlier generations rarely questioned authority, but Gen Z and Gen Alpha ask questions and seek logical answers with empathy."We never used to question authorities, but Gen Z and Gen Alpha question authority and want logical answers, that too with love," he said.The RSS chief said he would never tell Gen Z not to protest. However, he stressed that democracy should provide a proper avenue for such expression."I will never say that Gen Z should not protest, but there should also be a way given in democracy. We need to see that if youth is shouting, it is not for opposing but for improvement," Bhagwat said.He added that there are shortcomings in the system that need to be rectified and said students have a democratic right to raise their voice and seek improvements. He stressed that protests aimed at bringing about positive change should be seen as a legitimate expression of democratic participation.Commenting on allegations that questioning youth are often labelled anti-national, Bhagwat called for greater compassion and understanding."There should be a feeling of compassion and understanding. Today's generation is the most honest generation. They should be heard and felt heard," he said.Bhagwat also spoke about reports of the use of tear gas and pellet guns during protests, saying he did not have authentic information about the incidents."If I had to believe, I will believe Gen Z. But we do not know the reality. Both of us are conversing on the basis of information available through reports. There has also been reports of some anti-social modules present in this movement. But then we cannot talk without authentic information," he said.Bhagwat said he did not know the exact circumstances surrounding the recent confrontation between police and protesters, but maintained that his faith in young people remained unwavering despite the lack of verified information.The RSS chief also discussed the education system, saying education should not become a commercial activity."Education is not a commercial business. Community help can improve the education system. Financial burden of education is huge. We need to be vigilant, active and need to assess the system regularly. We also need to train our teachers. It is not just the government's responsibility to educate but it is a social responsibility," he said.On education funding, Bhagwat said the long-standing demand to allocate 6% of the national budget to education remains relevant. However, he stressed that improving education is not the government's responsibility alone."Demand of 6% budget allocation for education is old. But only government does not run schools. We as an organisation also strive hard for education and learning. There should be a social spirit awakening for education," he said.Bhagwat also cautioned against branding every agitation as anti-national."A protest does not become anti-national simply because people take to the streets," he said, underlining that dissent and demands for reforms are part of a healthy democracy.Extending his remarks to both Gen Z and Gen Alpha, Bhagwat said he had confidence in the younger generations and believed they wanted to contribute positively to the country.His comments come amid an ongoing debate over student-led protests and the response of law enforcement, with Bhagwat urging a more balanced approach to understanding youth-led movements, democratic dissent and reforms in the education system.- EndsPublished By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Aug 6, 2026 18:37 IST