Nepal-Like Gen Z Protest Possible In India? What KTR Told NDTV

A Nepal-like Gen Z protest could happen in India if governments fail the aspirations of the people, Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president KT Rama Rao has warned.

Speaking at the NDTV Yuva Conclave on Saturday, Mr Rao, or KTR as he is better known, said protesters were mocked when the demonstrations in Nepal, which eventually led to the overthrow of the government, began.

"What happened in Nepal recently was nothing but suppression of democracy and suppression of the voice of Gen Z. Initially, even the media mocked when Gen Z was protesting... they said they were protesting internet disruptions. But they were protesting for their future," he said.

Asked pointedly if he thought similar protests could happen in India, he replied, "If governments continue to fail them, if governments continue to fail the aspirations of the people of India, why not? Yes."

When the same question was posed to the audience, mostly consisting of young people, and many of them said no, the former Telangana minister said, "The night is still young, let's see." 

Addressing a session called 'Yuva and the Art of Reinvention", the BRS leader recounted the role his party and he played in the statehood movement for Telangana and went on to spell out what he thought the Gen Z represents. 

"Restless, young, ambitious, bold, that's Gen Z. You are truly the DIY generation - disruptive, imaginative and absolutely youthful. I would like to believe that my state, Telangana, is also a Gen Z state," he said. 

"Gen Z has truly led the charge on digital mediums. In Hyderabad, when the government of Telangana wanted to sell about 400 acres of forest land, Gen Z, in the form of Hyderabad Central University students, led the charge and started demanding answers from the government. Eventually, the Supreme Court responded and the Gen Z's activism saved 400 acres of land in Hyderabad," he added. 

Asserting that social media activism is not enough, however, KTR said Gen Z needs to seize the moment because while the world is getting older, India is getting younger. India, he said, does not have the luxury of leap-frogging and needs to "pole vault", it needs not venture capital but an industry which is open to being adventurous, and thus "adventure capital", and for its Gen Z to redefine the world order - "next practices", not just best practices.

'Lost By A Whisker'

Answering a question, KTR said politicians are now getting unfiltered feedback, thanks to social media, and politics will change a lot in 10 years. 

On his party, the BRS, losing to the Congress in Telangana after 10 years despite playing a key role in the state's formation, Mr Rao said one of the reasons could be that the youth did not get what they wanted. 

"We did not publicise well and, on the other hand, the Congress promised the moon. But people bought into it and we lost by a whisker," he said.