Same Sangh, different vocabulary: Priyank Kharge mocks RSS chief's Gen Z outreach

During an interaction, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made a strong pitch for engaging with young people, saying members of Gen Z who protest should not be branded "anti-national" and that their concerns are genuine.Priyank Kharge has criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's outreach to Gen Z. (PTI Photos)Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday took a sharp swipe at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's outreach to the Gen Z, accusing the organisation and the BJP of merely changing their vocabulary without changing their ideology.Responding to Bhagwat's remarks backing the concerns of young people and calling for dialogue, the Congress leader said in a post on X, "RSS and BJP are desperately updating their vocabulary, but unfortunately, it won't update their ideology. The truth remains the same, dividing people, misguiding youth and dressing up hatred in new packaging.""Same Sangh, just different slang," he added.Kharge also shared a caricature mocking Bhagwat's interaction with Gen Z and Gen Alpha students. The illustration carried the caption: "Flex the saffron, ghost the Constitution, let Manusmriti live rent-free, that's the whole vibe." The Congress leader's remarks came a day after Bhagwat made a strong pitch for engaging with young people, saying members of Gen Z who protest should not be branded "anti-national" and that their concerns are genuine. His interaction is being viewed as the RSS' most significant outreach to Gen Z and Gen Alpha since the nationwide agitation over the NEET paper leak, which culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last month.Addressing around 2,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha participants at the 15th anniversary event of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) in Mumbai, Bhagwat said protest is a legitimate form of dialogue in a democracy and should ultimately help build consensus rather than create divisions."If Gen Z members are agitating, they are not anti-national; they are our people. It is our next generation. You need a dialogue and rapport with them," the RSS chief said.He maintained that if concerns were not addressed through dialogue, people may resort to agitation, but stressed that the objective should remain consensus-building."The Gen Z grievances are genuine, and I believe in their honesty," Bhagwat said, while reiterating that dialogue should always be the first step.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Aug 7, 2026 07:41 IST