Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the resilience of India's democratic system while comparing the country's response to recent Gen Z protests with political developments in other South Asian nations. Speaking at the NDTV World Anviksha Summit, the former diplomat said India's political system had demonstrated the ability to adapt to public pressure without breaking down. “Our system bent and didn't break,” Tharoor said, describing the response as a sign of democratic flexibility.

Tharoor noted that young people in several major South Asian countries have taken to the streets in recent years, reflecting growing frustration among younger generations. He referred to protests in Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and India, describing them as different manifestations of Gen Z anger. However, he stressed that the political consequences varied significantly depending on the nature of each country's political system and the response of its leadership.

Comparing the outcomes, Tharoor said political upheaval in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka resulted in leaders leaving office and new governments taking charge. Nepal also experienced a change in government following its political unrest, although through a different process involving fresh elections. In Pakistan, he pointed to the military taking control and installing a government, while Myanmar also experienced military intervention. Tharoor used these examples to underline the different ways political establishments across the region responded to youth-led movements.

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Turning to India, Tharoor highlighted what he described as a “self-correcting mechanism” within the country's democratic system. He argued that India's political institutions were able to recognise the changing public mood and respond to demands from young protesters. According to him, the functioning democratic framework allowed the government to react to the situation rather than allowing the protests to trigger a wider political breakdown.

Tharoor also pointed to the resignation of a minister as an example of the system responding to public pressure. He noted that the Opposition had repeatedly sought ministerial resignations without success, but the situation changed when sustained public pressure created a political need to respond. He argued that democracy must remain flexible enough to recognise emerging public concerns and adjust to changing political realities.

The Congress leader said India's response to the protests gave him confidence about the country's democratic future. As an Opposition leader, he described the ability of Indian institutions to respond to popular sentiment as encouraging. Tharoor argued that India's experience demonstrated that a democratic system could absorb significant public pressure, adapt to new realities and continue functioning without losing its institutional stability.

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