CJP a welcome move, but…: What's Tejasvi Surya's take on Gen Z political rise
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya advised the CJP to maintain its credibility by remaining politically independent, applying consistent standards to governments regardless of who is in power.
Tejasvi Surya, the BJP's youngest MP, has an advise to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), under which the country witnessed a massive mobilisation of young people against the government. Surya said the CJP provided a platform for young people to raise their concerns, but if it wants to maintain its credibility and consistency, it must address issues independently, regardless of who is in power.
Analysing the rise of the CJP at the India Today Karnataka Roundtable, the Bengaluru South MP said the organisation had given voice to "certain issues at a pointed time" and had also acted as an "umbrella" for people who had concerns over governance at both the state and central levels.
"Most of the people who came to the protest may not be in support of CJP, but we are here for a particular issue," Surya said, adding that giving young people a platform to raise their voices was "a welcome thing in a democracy".
However, he cautioned that the organisation would have to undertake "some serious introspection" if it wanted to continue presenting itself as an independent movement.
"If they want to maintain their credibility, then the CJP will have to do some serious introspection," Surya said.
"The CJP now has an option. If they want to remain a credible movement, they must show independence in the issues they choose and the way they pursue them. They cannot be selective and ask questions based on who is ruling which state at which point in time," the MP observed.
He argued that the organisation should apply the same standards to governments across states rather than selectively raising issues depending on which political party was in power.
"That means, if they are asking about the quality of schools in Maharashtra, they must also ask about the quality of schools in Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other states as well," he said.
Surya also pushed back against the suggestion that young voters were turning against the BJP or the government because of disagreements on certain issues.
Surya acknowledged that young people could disagree with the government on specific issues, but argued that such disagreements should not automatically be interpreted as support for the Opposition.
"So there may be certain issues that they disagree with, and it is part of a healthy democracy," he said.
"That doesn't mean, if the Opposition thinks that because of one or two issues Gen Z has vocally expressed disagreement with the government, the young generation is in favour of them, then they are in a big delusion," the MP added.
According to Surya, young people primarily want good governance, employment opportunities, a functioning economy and systems that respond to their aspirations.
Surya said the government's economic performance and trade agreements would create new opportunities for young Indians, arguing that the country's growth trajectory was evidence of effective governance.