# Bhagwat backs Gen Z, Opposition slams BJP on protests

2026-08-07T10:17:20+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat told a gathering of about 2,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha members in Mumbai on Thursday that protesting students should not be called anti-national. 'In a democracy, protest is also a form of dialogue,' he said, adding that Gen Z is 'an honest generation'. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said Gen Z does not need a 'certificate' from Bhagwat. BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who had earlier called protesters the 'gutter generation', now praised the youth as 'our power'. Opposition parties accused the BJP-RSS of double standards: Bhagwat's moderation, they said, contradicted BJP leaders who had attacked young protesters over the NEET paper leak. NCP (SP) demanded Bhagwat publicly disapprove of such BJP leaders.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/from-priyanka-gandhi-kangana-ranaut-omar-abdullah-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-remarks-on-gen-z-draw-mixed-reactions-101786092463543.html>
- newindianexpress.com <https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Aug/07/bjp-rss-practising-politics-of-double-standards-over-gen-z-opposition>
- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mohan-bhagwat-rss-chief-gen-z-event-mumbai-cjp-protest-bjp-narendra-modi-government-2965649-2026-08-07?utm_source=rss>
- indiatoday.in <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kangana-ranaut-gen-z-row-bjp-mp-says-youth-should-not-be-judged-by-few-people-2965761-2026-08-07?utm_source=rss>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/why-mohan-bhagwat-praised-gen-z-aaj-ki-baat-with-rajat-sharma-opinion-piece-blog-post-2026-08-07-1050679>
- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/ncp-sp-questions-rss-bjps-double-standards-on-gen-z-protestors-4102926>

Tags: BJP, Gen Z, Kangana Ranaut, Mohan Bhagwat, RSS, student protests
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