MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) on Friday launched a scathing attack on the RSS-BJP establishment, accusing it of “double standards” and political hypocrisy in its sudden outreach to the nation’s youth.The opposition attack came in response to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s address to around 2,000 Gen Z and Gen Alpha members in Mumbai, where he advocated dialogue and trust while stating that agitating youth should not be branded “anti-national.”Addressing a press conference, NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase highlighted a stark contradiction between the Sangh’s conciliatory public stance and the ruling party’s actions during recent student agitations over the NEET paper leak.“The country is witnessing two completely different faces of the Sangh Parivar,” Tapase said. “One face speaks softly on public platforms about engaging Gen Z through dialogue and trust. The other face—represented by the BJP—has repeatedly questioned the patriotism, motives, and integrity of students who dared to question the government.”Taking specific exception to the heavy-handed response to student demonstrations, Tapase questioned why authorities responded with force—including lathi charges and tear gas—when students took to the streets demanding exam transparency and the education minister’s resignation. He explicitly called out BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Kangana Ranaut, alleging that senior party leaders used offensive language to label protesting students rather than acknowledging their democratic right to dissent.“If Mohan Bhagwat genuinely believes that Gen Z deserves dialogue and dignity, moral consistency demands that he publicly disapprove of BJP leaders who have delegitimised young Indians,” Tapase added, asserting that youth demand fair exams and employment opportunities rather than political labels.Amplifying the charge, NCP (SP) national spokesperson and secretary Clyde Crasto targeted the BJP for hastily jumping on the “Gen Z bandwagon” to curry political favour after suppressing peaceful demonstrations.“The BJP and its supporters are now jumping on the popularity of the Gen Z bandwagon,” Crasto said in a statement. “Gen Z is the future of this country. They understand what is happening, and through their peaceful protests, they have proven to the world that they possess knowledge and awareness.”Pointing to the police action against young agitators in the national capital and other parts of the country, Crasto demanded direct accountability from the central leadership.“Where were these leaders when there was a lathi charge on these peaceful protesters? All these youth were asking for were answers and justice, yet police in Delhi and across the country were deployed to beat them up,” Crasto stated. “Who ordered the lathi charge on Gen Z is an important question that the BJP-led government needs to answer. The central government must come out in the open and answer to the youth and the people of India as to who authorized the force used against peaceful protesters.“
