Political Outreach to Gen Z: RSS-Congress Engagement at Youth Event Sparks Debate

Hindustan Times - India · 5 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor clarified his participation in a student-led event where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address Gen Z students, highlighting tensions between political outreach and recent student protests.

Key points

IIMUN (India's International Movement to Unite Nations) is organizing an event where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will interact with Gen Z students, followed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's participation on subsequent days.

Tharoor clarified that the event is student-led, not RSS-organized, and emphasized his commitment to freedom of expression, distancing his participation from Bhagwat's session.

The event marks the 15th anniversary of IIMUN, with over 2,000 high school students expected to attend, focusing on the theme 'The Role of Youth in Uniting the World, the Indian Way.'

Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics (born 1997-2012 and 2013-2025, respectively) are central to the event, reflecting their growing political and social influence, as seen in recent student protests.

[GS2-Governance] The event occurs amid heightened scrutiny of youth-police interactions, following lathi charges on student protesters, raising questions about governance and dissent handling.

Aaditya Thackeray criticized political leaders for engaging with Gen Z only after protests, questioning their absence during police actions against students.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke emphasized the need for youth-led dialogues, rather than top-down engagements, to address their concerns effectively.

The event's advisory board includes prominent figures like Justice DY Chandrachud, Karan Johar, and PT Usha, indicating a broad-based attempt to engage diverse stakeholders in youth issues.

[GS4-Ethics] The debate over political outreach to Gen Z underscores ethical questions about sincerity in engagement versus opportunistic posturing amid rising youth activism.

Way Forward: Political parties should institutionalize youth engagement through structured forums, ensure transparent dialogue mechanisms, and address systemic issues like police brutality and educational reforms to build trust with younger generations.

Key terms

IIMUN

India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) is a youth-led organization promoting global citizenship and leadership among students through Model UN conferences. Its significance lies in fostering diplomatic skills and cross-cultural understanding among India's youth, aligning with GS2 topics on governance and youth empowerment.

Gen Z

Gen Z refers to individuals born between 1997 and 2012, characterized by digital nativity and heightened social consciousness. For UPSC, their growing political activism, as seen in protests against education policies, highlights their role in shaping governance and policy debates, relevant to GS2 and GS4.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)

The CJP is a protest movement led by Abhijeet Dipke, symbolizing resistance against perceived government overreach. Its significance for UPSC lies in its role in mobilizing youth dissent, raising questions about freedom of expression and police accountability under GS2 and GS4.

RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)

The RSS is a right-wing nationalist organization and the ideological parent of the BJP. Its outreach to Gen Z reflects strategic attempts to influence youth narratives, relevant to GS2's study of political organizations and their societal impact.