RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remarks that "Leadership is not just about delivering speeches and winning elections" have triggered a major political debate across the country. So far, the BJP has projected its consecutive electoral victories across various states as the biggest measure of its success. However, a protest organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak, has now become a major talking point in national politics. The developments have also led to discussions that the BJP, which until recently was seen as an invincible political force, is now facing increasing political pressure. Against this backdrop, Mohan Bhagwat's comments during an interaction with Gen Z and Gen Alpha groups in Mumbai on Thursday are being widely interpreted as being indirectly aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many observers believe Bhagwat's views on the youth differ significantly from the BJP's public narrative.
For the past 12 years, Modi and Amit Shah have been practising politics through speeches and messaging, a fact that, according to the article, is well known to the public. Videos related to this have also been widely circulated and trolled on social media in recent times. The article cites several examples, including Modi's earlier remarks on the fall of the rupee during Manmohan Singh's tenure as Prime Minister, his comments on meat exports, the BJP inducting leaders facing serious corruption allegations despite claiming it would not tolerate corruption, and what it describes as the government's failures in curbing black money and generating employment opportunities. According to the article, the list of such issues is much longer. The article further states that while the Parliament's Monsoon Session is underway, Prime Minister Modi has not made a statement in Parliament on issues facing the country. Instead, it says he has been speaking through social media reels and at NDA MPs' meetings. It also notes that Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to convey the Opposition's demand that Union Home Minister Amit Shah should come to the House and make a statement.
That for a party that claims no leader or political party is stronger than it, the current situation has become a matter of embarrassment. It further raises questions over whether Mohan Bhagwat's latest remarks are a signal of political developments in the coming days or merely an attempt to calm growing anger among the youth. The article also points out that the BJP narrowly retained power in the last general election, winning 240 seats on its own in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It claims that if dissatisfaction among the youth continues at the same pace, the BJP could be reduced to between 100 and 150 seats in the next election. According to the article, under the current circumstances, there is very little possibility that young voters will change their opinion about the BJP, particularly Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Although the consolidation of Hindutva votes benefited the BJP in the last three elections, the alleged theft of donation funds at the Ayodhya Ram Temple could cause significant political damage in the coming days. It also points out that neither Prime Minister Modi nor Amit Shah has officially responded to the issue. Finally, the article says it remains to be seen whether the RSS will take any major decisions in the coming days to restore the image of the Central government. Meanwhile, Opposition parties continue to disrupt Parliament, demanding official statements from Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah on the issue, thereby keeping the matter in public focus.