Gen-Z Protests "Integral To Democracy": BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad At NDTV Anviksha Summit In Nepal

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday that youth protest, be it in Nepal or India, is a natural feature of democratic societies and that the test for a country lies in how it responds to it, in an interview to NDTV in Kathmandu on the future of India-Nepal relations.

"Some degree of young protest is always integral to a democracy. But the maturity of the country depends upon how you handle it. That is very important," Prasad said at NDTV World Anviksha Summit.

Pressed on why youth-led movements had erupted across the subcontinent in different circumstances, Prasad said the phenomenon was organic but that outcomes depended on institutional capacity.

"If there is something wrong - either actually wrong or perceived to be wrong - [youth] will react. But the point is, is there a proper institutional mechanism to address the concern?" he said.

He drew a contrast with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan. "There are a lot of Gen-Zs there, and there are huge protests. They are being killed with impunity... How you address their concerns is always the benchmark of a stable future. And ultimately, it comes from democracy. It comes from stability. It comes from being understanding of their concerns."

He said India or Nepal dealt with such issues in a different manner, the latter having seen a change of regime after Gen-Z-led protests. "You cannot compare what is happening in Bangladesh and particularly in Pakistan with India or in Nepal," he said.

He said Nepal, before the present government came to power, had seen a lot of defections and political instability.

Asked whether the "Gen Z" label was overstated, given that student and youth agitations have long been a feature of politics, Prasad said technology had changed things. "I always trust the maturity of younger people... Trust them; they will give results."

On engaging a younger Nepali generation and their ties to India, he pointed to religious tourism and enterprise. "If we set up a proper rail link, which I think must be between Ayodhya and Janakpur, you will see the kind of tourism potential it has," he said, noting that many young people from the Madhesh area of Nepal had sent gifts to Ayodhya for the consecration of that temple. "We need to move with the aspirations of young people, whether in India or in Nepal," he said.

He added, "So long as Pashupati (temple) is there in Nepal and Kashi Vishwanath is there in India, this relationship is going to endure."

#NDTVWorldAnviksha | "We treat Nepal with equality as a friendly country, respecting their sovereignty": BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) #NDTVAnviksha #IdeasAcrossBorders #IndiaNepalDialogue | @VishnuNDTV pic.twitter.com/A8kCQk2wuw

Asked whether India had a record of a "big brotherly" attitude towards Nepal, not specific to any one government, Prasad said the approach had changed. "I want to make it very clear from the NDTV platform today in Kathmandu - and I compliment NDTV for inviting me - we don't eye any 'big brother' status," he said. "We treat Nepal with all equality as a friendly country, respecting their sovereignty and also respecting a common urge to share a future."

He said Indian politics was known for its "mercurial divide", but that "when it comes to the issue of Nepal, there is consensus".

He also referred to the massive flood that hit Nepal earlier this week. "The best thing we have done now, in dealing with the present tragedy, is just let the people of Nepal decide how we can assist them; it's not as if we are forcing anything on anybody. That should be the approach," he said.