Pune: Former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) on Thursday called for empathy and dialogue with the younger generation amid the political row over 'regime change' remarks linked to the youth-led protests, saying a different way of thinking does not mean Gen Z is wrong, ANI reported.
Source: ANI via SSB Crack — Naravane urges understanding of Gen Z
"The younger generation has a different way of thinking. However, having a different way of thinking does not mean they are wrong," Gen Naravane told ANI in Pune. "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."
Source: ANI via Devdiscourse — 'We should understand them': Ex-Army chief Naravane
The 'regime change' row erupted after senior advocate Prashant Bhushan described the ongoing agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a 'fight for regime change', and AISA president Neha Bora referred to the Gen Z-led movement in Bangladesh while talking about regime change, Devdiscourse reported. The protests centre on allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — allegations the demonstrators make and the Commission disputes.
Source: Devdiscourse — Naravane on Gen Z's approach amid protests
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had accused the Congress and its allies of using youth-led protests in Delhi to spread 'anarchy' and seek a Bangladesh-style change of government, while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused opposition figures and external actors of attempting to foment violent street protests; Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pushed back, saying analogies comparing India's democratic protests to violent European riots were baseless, according to Devdiscourse. Gen Naravane's remarks, urging listening over dismissal, add a former service chief's voice to that debate. Sources: ANI, SSB Crack and Devdiscourse.
Source: Devdiscourse — Naravane on Gen Z's approach amid protests
Former Army chief Gen M. M. Naravane (Retd), speaking to ANI in Pune, said a different way of thinking does not make Gen Z wrong, and urged understanding, listening and dialogue to resolve young protesters' problems and confusion. The remarks came amid the 'regime change' row over youth-led protests against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.