India's prime minister is wooing the GenZ while cracking down on them

Over two months, protesters, most who appeared to be digitally-savvy GenZ, used social media to organize. Government's efforts to respond spotlight how the ruling party appears to be playing catch-up.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3497x2331+0+0/resize/3497x2331!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd9%2F6a%2F6e79e48b49a19322d5319d67e040%2Fgettyimages-2287064142.jpg' alt='A child holds a placard during a gathering in solidarity with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to celebrate the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Mumbai on July 26, 2026 as protests over the alleged NEET exam irregularities were called off.'/><p>Over two months, protesters, most who appeared to be digitally-savvy GenZ, used social media to organize. Government's efforts to respond spotlight how the ruling party appears to be playing catch-up.</p><p>(Image credit: PUNIT PARANJPE)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-141512' />