For years, the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS, have mostly appeared to speak in one voice on national issues. That is why RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks on the Gen Z protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have attracted attention. At a time when protesters are often labelled as politically motivated or even anti-national, Bhagwat chose a different approach. He said young people were protesting because they felt there was a problem in the system and there was no proper dialogue. Such protests, he suggested, should not automatically be seen as anti-national.

The bigger question is whether the RSS is signalling a different approach from the BJP or simply trying to rebuild the government’s connect with young voters before 2029.