New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday rejected the portrayal of Cockroach Janta Party-led student protesters as representative of Gen Z, alleging that those who abused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother, assaulted security personnel and engaged in obscene behaviour cannot represent the country’s young generation.
During a ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20, the CJP-led protesters clashed with security forces, who used lathis and tear gas shells to disperse the crowds moving toward Parliament.
The student-led protests, which had spread to several cities, centred on the demand for the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The agitation, which began at Jantar Mantar on June 20, ended on July 25 after Pradhan resigned and the government accepted the CJP’s other demands.
Talking to PTI, VHP national joint general secretary Surendra Jain said the recent protests should not define India’s youth, which he claimed remains connected to religion, the country’s cultural roots and national service.
“They are not the real Gen Z. They do not represent India’s youth,” he said.
“How many people exist with such a distorted mentality, who make obscene gestures with a picture of Bharat Mata on the road, abuse Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother or assault soldiers present there? We should maintain dialogue even with such people, that is our view, but they are not the real Gen Z. They do not represent India’s youth,” Jain said, adding that he had taught in colleges and spent time among young people but had never come across the kind of behaviour seen at the protests.
“Gen Z is an age group and that age group is connected with religion. This is visible when India’s youth, instead of going to picnic spots on New Year’s Eve, go to Mathura, Vrindavan, Kashi, Ayodhya and Vaishno Devi and feel blessed,” Jain said.
He said the age group generally identified as Gen Z is much larger than those who participated in the protests; the enrolment of young people in the armed forces is an example.
“Those who join the armed forces are also Gen Z. A young man joining the Army is 20 to 25 years old. Every year, far more young people join the armed forces than the number of people who were there at Jantar Mantar,” he said.
Jain also cited the participation of young people in religious gatherings to argue that India’s youth are connected to its religious and cultural traditions.
“More than 25 crore young people below the age of 25, whom you call Gen Z, had reached the Kumbh. Go to any theatre and watch ‘Hanuman Ansh’; more than half the audience belongs to the same age group, which is called Gen Z,” he said.
He said the VHP believes in maintaining dialogue with those who hold different views but that a small group should not be allowed to define the entire young population in the country.
On the Uniform Civil Code, Jain welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the BJP and NDA-ruled states will implement it before 2029, describing it as a constitutional requirement.
“Bringing the Uniform Civil Code is a constitutional obligation. It is provided for in the Constitution. The Supreme Court has said this five times. Unfortunately, because of a handful of Muslim votes, this constitutional provision is being ignored and violated,” he said.
He said the UCC will help ensure justice for women and disadvantaged sections and integrate the younger generation into the country’s development. Jain appealed to all political parties to rise above “partisan considerations” and introduce the UCC in their respective states.
On the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and the first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining proposed changes to the law, Jain urged all political parties to support stricter provisions.
“Bringing money from abroad and creating a network of religious conversion in India, conducting anti-national activities and indulging in hateful activities such as ‘love jihad’ has a long history. The inflow of that money should stop,” he said.
A Joint Parliamentary Committee examining a contentious bill, which proposes tighter government oversight of non-governmental organisations and foreign funding in the country, met for the first time on Friday. PTI ADI ADI RUK RUK
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