New Delhi, August 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Leaders of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Sunday criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, accusing him of adopting double standards on students’ issues and misleading young people instead of offering solutions.
JD-U national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad questioned the Congress over what he described as its silence on student protests concerning examination irregularities in Jharkhand and Punjab.
Prasad said students in Jharkhand had been protesting for around 16 days and questioned why Rahul Gandhi had not visited Ranchi while participating in protests elsewhere.
“There has been an agitation by the students of Jharkhand for around 16 days, and Rahul Gandhi has still not reached Ranchi,” he said, adding that students would seek an explanation for his absence.
BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash challenged Gandhi to compare the average unemployment rate during the 10 years of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government with that under the NDA, saying the comparison would make the situation clear.
He pointed to initiatives such as the Mudra scheme and Start-up initiatives, claiming they had helped young people move towards self-employment and economic self-reliance.
Bihar Minister and BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav accused Gandhi of misleading young people with his allegations that the system had eliminated employment opportunities in the armed forces, captured universities and targeted students.
Yadav said the Congress had governed the Centre and states for nearly six decades after Independence and argued that the party and the Gandhi family could not distance themselves from issues such as unemployment.
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also criticised Gandhi, saying his voice was “hardly being heard” and alleging that he lacked a clear vision, plan or agenda. She said statements and what she described as false narratives would not resolve students’ problems, while claiming that the Centre had addressed concerns arising from the NEET examination.
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, however, defended Gandhi and said criticism from the BJP followed whenever the Congress leader raised employment-related concerns.
Jha pointed to unemployment among educated people in particular and said the situation should be a matter of concern. He argued that a large section of young people faced an uncertain future because of what he described as an unjust system.
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