‘Attempt to appease the youth’, says Opposition on BJP’s Gen Z outreach

New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed a committee as part of its Gen Z outreach program, series of leaders from the Opposition camp hit out at the ruling party, claiming that it was “desperately attempting to appease the youth”.

BJP maintained that the move will focus on personal interactions with youth and students in order to understand their views.

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan, speaking to IANS, remarked that the BJP has understood that the “youth are against them”.

“The Cockroach Janta Party agitation and various other youth agitations have made them understand that youth are against them…The youth raise certain important issues and all those things will go against this government. They (BJP) have understood that they cannot win next time. That is why they want to somehow appease the youth. So, they are doing all these things,” he added.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said: “Many committees have been formed…There is a saying in public administration; forming a committee itself indicates that you are trying to postpone the issue.”

Urging the government to understand the message of the youth, he said: “They want a better education system. They need a concrete blueprint and assurance for employment and both of these are outside the (BJP) committee’s authority.”

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy remarked: “Gen Z has no faith in the BJP.”

Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson RP Singh mentioned that the party is continuously trying to engage and work with the Gen Z.

“We are constantly working with Gen Z. Our Yuva Morcha also maintains regular communication with them. Now, the party is focusing more on Gen Z so that we are able to connect with them and understand their viewpoint,” he said while adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed party leaders to visit universities, interact with students, take their feedback and share it with the government.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal echoed, saying “We must remember that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first in the country to state that India is a nation of youth, and since then, he has consistently engaged in dialogues with young people.”

Referring to PM Modi’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ initiative, he said: “The Prime Minister interacts with students during exam periods. The BJP organization already has a ‘Yuva Morcha’ (Youth Wing).”

“This is not a new initiative; it is simply the next step in that ongoing process where conversations will be held with the youth to know their opinions from close quarters,” Khandelwal added.

–IANS

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