India’s leader Modi woos Gen Zs while cracking down on them : NPR

Key Points:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to widespread youth-led protests demanding education reform in India through Instagram reels, marking a shift in the ruling BJP's traditional communication strategy to engage with digitally-savvy Gen Z protesters.
• The protests, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, a youth movement originating as an internet meme, resulted in the ousting of the education minister and posed a significant political challenge to Modi's government.
• The government has faced criticism for its handling of the protests, including police violence against demonstrators, thousands of criminal charges filed against protesters, and increased social media censorship targeting dissenting voices.
• In response to the protests, BJP leaders and government ministries have adopted new social media tactics, including using slang and platforms like Snapchat, in an effort to connect with younger voters and bridge the generational gap in Indian politics.
• Activists and journalists documenting state repression have faced harassment and intimidation, with reports of police interrogations and online abuse, highlighting concerns over freedom of expression and government control over digital platforms in India.