New Delhi: Former Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi Thursday urged students to reject the term “Gen Z” and identify themselves as “Amrit Peedhi”. Taking an apparent swipe at recent protests, she claimed “those 500 people” would not change the country and questioned the use of dharnas to create a spectacle while the world was watching.Addressing a youth conclave organised by Northern India Regional Council (NIRC) of Institute of Cost Accountants of India on the theme ‘Shaping Gen Z for Viksit Bharat’, Lekhi told students, “Don’t allow others to label you. I want you to condemn the word ‘Gen Z’. You are Amrit Peedhi.”During an interaction, when a student identified politicians as one of the things they wanted to change, Lekhi said politicians were elected by people. “In a democracy, people have the right to vote and the right to bring about change, but it has to be democratic… Assembling 500 people on the road, holding a dharna, going to Rashtrapati Bhavan when the world is watching us, or reaching Supreme Court — that is not the way.”She urged students to “stop questioning and start contributing to the country’s development”.While she did not name any organisation, the remarks came amid recent protests by various bodies, including Cockroach Janta Party, and also by the opposition with Congress at the forefront.Referring to a parent whose child preferred French over Sanskrit, Lekhi cautioned students against apparent attempts to make them disrespect Indian culture and heritage. She also called social media “the new opium” and urged students to stay away from “reel-baazi”.NIRC chairman Manish Kandpal said the aim was to channelise youth energy towards building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by making young people skilled and employable. Around 700 students who qualified this year were felicitated at the programme.The event was virtually joined by Union minister Raj Bhushan Chaudhary as the chief guest, while Lekhi was present as the guest of honour.
