Pune, October 22, 2026: Former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) has called for constructive engagement and empathy toward the younger generation, stating that a different way of thinking does not make them wrong. Speaking to ANI in Pune on Thursday, he addressed recent statements by Gen Z figures concerning “regime change” in the context of ongoing protests.
“The younger generation has a different way of thinking. However, having a different way of thinking does not mean they are wrong,” Gen Naravane said. He emphasised the importance of listening and dialogue: “We should try to understand them. Once we understand them, understand their problems and difficulties—if we listen to them and understand them—only then can we resolve and fix the confusion and issues they face. Therefore, engaging in dialogue with each other and listening to one another is very essential.”
The remarks come amid a political controversy over youth-led protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These protests, involving groups such as the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and elements of the INDIA bloc, centre on allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including large-scale voter deletions. Demonstrators have demanded Kumar’s resignation and free and fair elections, with multiple detentions reported at sites such as Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The “regime change” framing intensified after senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, speaking at a press conference on October 15 alongside AISA president Neha Bora and others, stated: “There will definitely be a regime change. We all want a regime change. Is there anything wrong with that?” He described the agitation as a fight for regime change and defended it as a democratic right of citizens, while citing past BJP protests and Supreme Court observations on sedition.
Separately, AISA president Neha Bora drew sharp criticism for remarks in a video message to Bangladesh’s Socialist Students Front. She said the Gen Z movement in India “first started in Bangladesh” and congratulated them for “showing us the way,” while offering a “red salute.” The comments referenced the 2024 student-led protests in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused the Congress and its allies of using youth-led protests in Delhi to spread “anarchy” and seek a Bangladesh-style change of government. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju similarly alleged attempts to foment violent street protests akin to those in Bangladesh and Paris. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stated that “regime change has neither happened nor will it happen.”
Congress leaders rejected the characterisation. MP Shashi Tharoor said, “India is not Bangladesh and India is not France… We only believe in peaceful protest… What we are calling for is free and fair elections… It’s a constitutional issue. It’s not an issue of trying to topple a regime or anything like that.” Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera described the narrative as a “dangerous trope” aimed at discrediting legitimate grievances over electoral integrity.
Gen Naravane, who served as Army Chief from 2019 to 2022, has previously spoken on generational differences (including in August 2026) and has consistently advocated keeping the armed forces insulated from political narratives. His latest comments focus on the need for dialogue to address youth grievances rather than dismissal.
The episode highlights ongoing debates over youth activism, electoral processes, and institutional neutrality in India’s democratic discourse.
