Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Union ministers to engage with schools and public universities to address growing dissatisfaction with the government and strengthen connections with younger voters. However, this renewed focus on outreach has raised alarms among some BJP leaders. They worry that such efforts could alienate the party’s core supporters and encourage various groups to pursue their demands through protests, according to sources familiar with the situation.
“The PM’s instruction and the steps being taken to reach out to the youth are in good faith. The group has been visiting schools to show poor infrastructure and lack of amenities in government-run institutions.
“There is a concern that the government’s outreach may be setting the stage for more pressure groups to protest and take to the streets,” said a party functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity. Debates, discussions and even protests are part of the democratic process… but the CJP protests are now appearing more political than about students issues,” said the functionary quoted above. The functionary said the government had already set out to make amends by re-conducting NEET exams and taking legal action against the guilty, but the CJP put pressure for the removal of then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The functionary said several party leaders had “reservations” about ministers being sent to universities, where “confrontations could be planned to derail the outreach. “ “The other reason is that when the UGC guidelines were issued, there was a section of students who were up in arms about the issue… largely affiliated to the BJP, they were made to stand down. Now, the core constituency feels slighted…” the functionary said. On whether the party is following the cue of its ideology mentor, a second leader said, “The Sangh routinely reaches out to all sections including students. But while it backs dialogue with genuine students and legitimate concerns, it also cautions against vested interests…” the leader said. He said the CJP, carrying out inspection of government-run schools is an example of politicising the issue.
