Rahul Gandhi's call for 'Gen-Z revolution': Laden with contradictions, weighed down by rhetoric

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that India's 'Gen Z' will protect democracy, and stop vote theft. (X:@Rahul Gandhi)

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday exhorted the youth, students and Gen Z of the country to "save the Constitution, protect democracy, and stop vote theft", adding that he will always stand with them.

Rahul's call for youth-led 'change', with Gen-Z at the forefront, comes with a subtext hard to miss -- one that echoes the recent upheaval in Nepal, where a movement to "end corruption" spiraled into chaos and claimed lives before toppling the government.

"The youth of the country, the students of the country, the Gen Z of the country will save the Constitution, protect democracy, and stop vote theft. I always stand with them. Jai Hind!" Rahul said in a post on X Thursday evening.

The BJP was quick to lash out at Rahul over the remarks. "Rahul Gandhi wants to instigate civil war in India. Using the same civil war, Rahul Gandhi's grandfather, Nehru, divided the nation... He is working with the Soros Foundation to divide the nation," BJP MP and spokesperson Nishikant Dubey said.

Even without Rahul explicitly naming them, the parallels with India’s crisis-hit neighbourhood — Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — were hard to miss. But that’s not the only reason his clarion call raises concerns, especially for Congress itself.

The BJP has been quick to point out that the Gen-Z movement in Nepal, that saw several politicians being targeted, was against corruption and dynastic rule. Ironically, the Congress has been associated with both.

While allegations of corruption remain synonymous with the Congress UPA-I and UPA-II regimes, the party has also been the BJP's favourite punching bag on the issue of dynastic politics, with the Gandhis at the helm.

"Gen Z is against family politics. 1. Why would he tolerate Rahul Ji after Nehru Ji, Indira Ji, Rajiv Ji, Sonia Ji?...2. He is against corruption, why wouldn't he chase you away? 3. They want to make an Islamic nation in Bangladesh and a Hindu nation in Nepal, why wouldn't they make India a Hindu nation? Get ready to leave the country, they are coming," Nishikant Dubey said responding to Rahul's post on X.

In another post, Dubey said that the BJP stands with the youth of the country, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also continuously striving for social change in the campaign against dynastic ideology and corruption. "This time, all dynastic politics will be out."

Speaking to news agency ANI later, Dubey said that India's Gen Z already brought the change they wished to see.

"During the Nirbhaya case, one lakh people were on the streets in 2013, but the BJP decided not to instigate violence... Rahul Gandhi wants to associate himself with what happened in Nepal and Bangladesh. At both places, the Gen Z was against nepotism and 'Parivarvaad'... Where is the 'Parivarvaad'?... It has been in the Gandhi family for decades... If he wants to provoke Gen Z, then I am with Rahul Gandhi; the entire Congress party will have to abscond from the country... In Nepal and Bangladesh, the Gen Z were against corruption... All the scams have been done by the Congress. We have no allegation of a scam in the last 11 years," he said.

The BJP MP further widened his attack against the Congress and said its allies in the Opposition were also dynastic parties.

"Rahul Gandhi wants to instigate civil war in India. Using the same civil war, Rahul Gandhi's grandfather, Nehru, divided the nation... He is working with the Soros Foundation to divide the nation. The BJP stands with the Gen Z. The Congress and its allies would be seen absconding from the nation...," Dubey said, speaking to ANI.