Published Jul 27, 2026 | 3:22 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 27, 2026 | 3:30 PM
RSS Swayamsevaks and the BJP. (South First)
Synopsis: Several BJP, RSS leaders have voiced discontent over the Narendra Modi government’s handling of the student led protest against examination irregularities. This has prompted the Congress to raise suspicions regarding what is happening within the RSS-BJP leadership.
The massive student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has not just pushed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to seek the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan but also seemingly triggered a churn within the RSS-BJP leadership. Calling for accountability and chiding the BJP government over the handling of the protest were prominent RSS leaders including Sangh’s chief Mohan Bhagwat who stressed on the importance of “communicating” with the youth.
The latest such statement came from P Muralidhar Rao, senior leader and former national general secretary of the BJP, prompting a response from the Congress.
In a post on X on Monday, 27 July, Rao stressed on the importance of anchoring governance in integrity and prioritising the trust of the people. In what appears to be a veiled criticism of the current BJP-led government, Rao also invoked Ramayana to state that any leader entrusted with ruling India should keep his word to the public.
“Governance may emerge from the mandate of the majority, but it endures only through the consent of the governed. At the heart of good governance lies the trust of the people,” Rao said.
Stating that governance should be rooted in integrity, Rao said, “Like the chariot of Dharmaraj Yudhishthir, which was said to move above the ground because of his unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness, governance must always remain anchored in integrity.”
“Pran jaye par vachan na jaye”—the ideal exemplified by Shri Ram—reminds every public leader that keeping one’s word is the foundation of public trust. This should remain the talisman—the guiding lamp post—for every leader entrusted with governance in India,” he wrote.
Also Read: Beyond Pradhan’s resignation: CJP and the unfinished struggle for educational justice in India
Rao’s comments invited a quick response from Congress leader Pawan Khera, who shared the BJP leader’s statements and replied on X, “What did Murli Dhar ji end up blurting out? What’s going on inside the BJP?”
Shortly after, Rao attempted to clarify his remarks were not intended against the leadership of Narendra Modi. In a post on X, Rao tagged an earlier post of his, welcoming Modi’s decision to seek the resignation of the education minister.
He wrote, “This has always guided the govt led by Shri @narendramodi ji- to withdraw farm laws or now reforms on education.. Our leadership is guided not by our adversaries but by Indian ethos..”
However, Rao is the latest among several RSS-BJP leaders who have expressed discontent in the Modi government’s initial approach to the CJP protests.
Also Read: Allegation of 100s of protesters being locked up as Chief Justice backs right to peaceful protest
Days earlier, former education minister and senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi expressed “pain” over the violent crackdown on student protesters while terming their demands as “genuine.” He also raised concern that such use of force might alienate a large section of the Indian society from BJP’s “Viksit Bharat” goal.
“It is painful to see young students from different parts of the country assembled for days on the streets of New Delhi. Their anxieties and concerns regarding the examination system are genuine and must be handled with empathy and a desire to find a lasting solution. I fervently hope that this is not treated merely as a law-and-order issue to be tackled through the use of force. It is very painful to see that even young girls were brutally mishandled.
Such use of force shall alienate large sections of Indian society from the national goal of Viksit Bharat,” Joshi said in a post on X on July 23.
He also welcomed the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and congratulated the protesters on their victory.
“Better late than never. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has submitted his resignation. I hope that the Prime Minister will also take an immediate and timely decision. I appreciate and congratulate all the students for their peaceful conclusion to the movement. I hope that now peace will soon be established in the world of Indian education and that the young people will have ample opportunities for their bright future and progress,” he wrote on X.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also had suggested a softening of approach towards the student protesters.
Addressing an event in Delhi on July 24. the RSS leader stated that the young generation is more inclined to ask questions and called on elders to explain the reasoning behind things to them with affection.
“When we were young, it was an era of obedience. That’s not the case anymore. The new generation asks questions. We have to explain the reasoning to them. We need to give them a lot of affection. We need to spend time with them. We need to communicate with them. Nowadays, conversation has stopped even within families,” Bhagwat said.
(Compiled by Fayisa CA)
