Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Prayagraj on Saturday to attend an interaction with students focused on youth issues such as education and employment. The event, titled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, comes amid the Congress party’s push to highlight unemployment, paper leaks and delays in recruitment.
Ahead of the programme at KP Ground, preparations continued despite overnight rain leaving the venue waterlogged. Workers were seen removing water with buckets, while JCB machines were used to spread limestone and sand at affected spots and a road roller was used to level the ground.
The area around the venue was covered with posters featuring Gandhi. Supportive posters described him as ‘Jan Nayak’ and carried slogans such as ‘we want jobs, not pellet guns’, ‘mantri ji ki badi car, desh ka yuva berozgar’ and ‘job nahi milegaa to singhasan hilegaa’.
One poster critical of Gandhi said, ‘Rahul you have come to Prayagraj, but when will you visit Jharkhand’. Jharkhand, where the Congress is part of the JMM-led government, has seen students protest for 15 days over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, with six demonstrators on hunger strike.
In a post on X on Saturday, the Congress said, ‘Let it be loud and clear: we will continue to fight for every student’s future.’ It added, ‘Chhatron ki Goonj — is poised to raise a powerful call from Prayagraj that will echo across the nation. Join ‘Jan Nayak’ Rahul Gandhi and play a pivotal role in transforming the country’s education system.’
Another post said, ‘The Modi government wants to create ‘andhbhakts’ (blind devotees) in the country because its very ideology attaches no importance to education. That is why Rahul Gandhi seeks to transform the corrupt education system through the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ initiative.’ The Indian Youth Congress also asked young people to join the programme ‘to demand a better education system’ and posted, ‘Today, August 8, students across 250+ cities will come together for LoP Rahul Gandhi ji’s live interaction with students from Prayagraj.’
On Friday, Gandhi said he was coming to Prayagraj to discuss unemployment and the problems faced by students, and said the country’s youth today have ‘no future’ in education or employment under the present system.
In a post on X, he wrote, ‘I am coming to Prayagraj – the city where the largest number of young people prepare for their future. One thing is clear: every student here knows that the system has become dishonest. There is no shortage in your hard work – the shortcoming lies in the intent of the system, which does not reward your effort.’
He added, ‘Paper leaks, stalled recruitments, years of waiting and no accountability. Students raised their voices in Kota, then again in Dehradun, and in Delhi these very students were lathi-charged simply for asking questions. In the end, a minister had to resign. This government bows only when voices are raised together. That is what I am coming to discuss in Prayagraj… You should come too. August 8, 5 pm, KP Ground, Prayagraj.’
Ahead of the programme, a youth told PTI Videos that there was a problem of unemployment and question paper leaks. Another said that if the Leader of the Opposition raised the issue, it would have an impact on the government and make it act in the interest of students. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said all necessary clearances had been secured for Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme after police granted permission subject to conditions.
These include following noise norms, maintaining law and order, deploying volunteers for crowd management and avoiding provocative or derogatory remarks against any political or non-political organisation, religion, caste or community. The Prayagraj event is set to centre on student concerns while the Congress seeks to sharpen its attack on the government over jobs, exams and recruitment.
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 8, 2026 18:02 IST
