MUMBAI, Aug. 7 -- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat stood up for students who recently protested the NEET-UG 2026 paper leaks and other irregularities, saying, "I believe Gen Z blindly because they are an honest generation." Bhagwat was speaking through an interaction with Rishabh Shah, founder of India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) - a youth organisation -- at the Annual Championship Conference held in Mumbai, to mark its 15th anniversary. He underscored that the young should be heard and that dialogue is the best way to solve issues. Before the session, the moderator, Shah, gathered questions from the students to ask Bhagwat, whose responses drew loud cheers from the audience. Addressing around 2,000 students aged between 15 and 19, who had converged from over 100 cities to attend the event at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) on Thursday, he also deliberated on topics of unemployment, reservation, equal rights for women and those of the LGBTQIA+ community, and India's relations with neighbouring countries. Speaking about the recent student protests at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Bhagwat said the protesters should not be called "anti-national". "Gen Z are our own children. If they protest for an issue, how can they become anti-national? Their concerns should be heard. In a democracy, protest is also a form of dialogue. There is nothing wrong in protesting, but it should not be used to create divisions in society," he said, acknowledging that improvements are needed in India's education policy for which discussions are necessary. Bhagwat said, education should not become a business and every child should have access to quality education, and stressed on the need to review fee structures, improve teacher training and increase public participation in school development. Supporting higher budget for education, Bhagwat backed the long-standing demand of 6% of the country's total budget be spent on this sector. He expressed faith that this could be achieved through dialogue without the need for protests. When he was asked about the alleged lathi-charge and use of pellet guns on protesting students, Bhagwat reserved comment, saying he did not have full information about the incident. "I do not know why the lathi-charge happened or whether pellet guns were used. I need to study the facts before giving an opinion," he said. While he did not see a problem with the use of social media, he insisted that "people develop self-discipline and use social media responsibly". While responding to a query on India's relations with Pakistan and China, he said the youth should stand by the government's decisions during times of conflict with neighbouring nations. Bhagwat also said that true leadership is not only about winning elections or giving speeches, but "a real leader is someone who leads by example, works within the system to bring positive change and helps create more leaders". While he said those belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community should be accepted as a part of society, "marriage is an institution that helps prepare the next generation to become responsible members of society, and any changes to this system should be made carefully". He made the comment when he was specifically questioned about the legality of same sex marriage. "In such cases, we need to consider companionship which society can accept; once that is achieved, there is no need to frame a law." Unemployment, said Bhagwat, cannot be solved by the government alone and requires efforts from the entire society. He said more opportunities should be created through entrepreneurship, skill development and local employment, stressing on education that prepares the youth with practical skills. Women, he underscored, "have an equal and complimentary role in society" and therefore should get equal opportunities in every field. "Their participation is important for the country's progress," he said. Responding to a question on the absence of women's rights in RSS's core structure, he said the question was based on "half knowledge" adding that the body supports the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, a national women's volunteer committee, which works separately with its own mandate. Reservation, he said, will be necessary as long as inequality exists in society. "While some communities have benefited from reservation and progressed, others still remain deprived and are now raising their voices for equal opportunities," said Bhagwat....