RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said “protests are inevitable in a democracy” but they should be to find solutions, his remarks coming against the backdrop of widespread protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India under chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
He also advocated for greater government control over social media and streaming aka OTT platforms.
Addressing the Sangh's annual Vijayadashami Utsav gathering in Nagpur, Bhagwat cited recent upheavals in Bangladesh, Nepal, France and Albania.
He asserted that forces pursuing their own interests use regime change as a means to alter political circumstances, rarely achieving intended results.
"They claim that changing a regime will change the situation, but that has never really happened," he said.
Bhagwat claimed that a stronger India would constrain such forces, making the country a target of attempts to weaken and divide it. While some global powers want India to develop, they do not want it to become too powerful, as it could challenge their dominance, he added.
"Problems will remain, and protests are inevitable in a democracy. But what should the purpose of protests be? They should be aimed at finding solutions," he said.
He said that protests could become political instruments when driven by objectives other than public welfare, fuelling hostility towards individuals, groups or ideologies.
Bhagwat also urged political leaders, protesters and the administration to ensure that their actions did not create bitterness or divisions in society.
"However intense our emotions may be, we must respect the limits set by our Constitution, the norms of civilised public discourse and standards of decent conduct," he said.
Bhagwat highlighted the need for greater discernment among the younger generation in consuming information.
Citing concerns over the adverse effects of unchecked content, particularly on OTT platforms, he urged the government to consider appropriate regulations in the interest of society.
Having experienced the adverse consequences, many countries have introduced regulations and restrictions on social media platforms, he said. In India also, society is increasingly recognising the need for such measures, particularly with regard to OTT platforms, he added.
At the same time, even when information is freely accessible, the younger generation must be taught to exercise discernment and distinguish between what is appropriate and what is not, Bhagwat said.
His remarks come at a time when police across several states have been accused of using undue force on mostly peaceful protesters led mostly by young people. The first such agitation resulted in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the country’s education minister.
The government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have come in for severe, irreverent criticism across social media, mostly from young people.