Mumbai, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) founder and president Rishabh Shah has called for civility in political discourse, saying derogatory language should not be used against any political leader, including the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
Shah’s remarks came amid the circulation of videos on social media purportedly showing protesters at Jantar Mantar using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to IANS, Shah said political differences should not come at the cost of basic respect and argued that society has a collective responsibility to set the right example for younger generations.
He said children are often taught what they should and should not do, but their values are ultimately shaped by the environment created by parents, older generations and society at large.
Shah also pointed to the influence of politics and cinema on young people, saying the content and behaviour they encounter can shape their outlook. He stressed that society must consider how it is influencing Gen Z and Gen Alpha and ensure that young people are exposed to responsible examples.
Asked whether anti-national elements could have been involved in the Jantar Mantar protest and whether the matter warranted an investigation, Shah referred to recent remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who had said that Gen Z was not anti-national and was speaking for itself.
Shah said that if the government or other authorities believe that elements beyond Gen Z participants were involved in the protest, an inquiry should be conducted. At the same time, he maintained that the overwhelming majority of protesters were likely members of Gen Z participating over issues they genuinely cared about.
Comparing Gen Z participants at Bhagwat’s interaction with those who took part in the Jantar Mantar protest, Shah said their aspirations and concerns were broadly similar, particularly on education, climate action and mental health.
According to Shah, the primary difference was in how the two groups chose to express their views. He said different forms of democratic expression could coexist and were necessary for a healthy democracy.
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