The youth of the country will rise above political divisions to defend the Constitution and the democratic, secular character of India if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) government continues with its “anti-student and anti-youth” policies, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader Aishe Ghosh said at the public meeting marking the conclusion of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State Conference in Thrissur on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Ghosh said the country was passing through a challenging period, with the RSS and BJP seeking to push their “communal and divisive agenda” into educational institutions and youth spaces.

“The RSS and BJP are hell-bent on destroying the future of the youth of this country,” she said, accusing the Union government of weakening education through fund cuts while failing to create adequate employment opportunities.

She said the BJP had promised “Achhe Din”, two crore jobs a year, a “Viksit Bharat” and “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” during successive election campaigns, but claimed that the last 12 years had instead witnessed policies that adversely affected students and young people.

“Where are the two crore jobs promised to the youth? Whose fault is it that students and youth are being called cockroaches and parasites? It is the Modi government, the RSS and the BJP that must take responsibility,” she said.

Growing resistance

Ms. Ghosh also highlighted what she described as the growing resistance among students and youth. She said the recent protests at Jantar Mantar had demonstrated the power of collective action.

“In 37 days, the student and youth movement proved that if we are united, even the Education Minister had to resign,” she said.

She warned that the protests would not stop there if the government continued its “anti-student and anti-youth” policies.

“If the RSS, the Modi government and the BJP continue on this path, the entire Modi-Shah Cabinet will have to face the resistance of the students and youth,” she said.

The SFI leader said the DYFI conference had come at a crucial moment and called for stronger organisation of young people around an alternative political vision rooted in constitutional, democratic and secular values.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of implementing the RSS agenda in Keralam, alleging that it was facilitating the saffronisation of education and yielding to the Governor. He also accused the Congress of aligning with Sangh Parivar politics and urged youth to resist attempts to undermine constitutional safeguards.

DYFI national president A.A. Rahim, newly elected state president Chintha Jerome and others spoke.

Published - August 22, 2026 09:26 pm IST