Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP from Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi joined the ongoing ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ padyatra (march) in Begusarai district of Bihar on April 7. The padyatra is focused on issues like unemployment, migration of youth, and lack of job opportunities in the state.
Rahul was joined by Kanhaiya Kumar, national in-charge of NSUI (Congress’ student wing), during what is being called the ‘White T-shirt Yatra’.
Ahead of the march, Rahul Gandhi had urged Bihar’s youth to wear white t-shirts and walk with him to put pressure on the government and raise their voices for their rights. This is Rahul’s third visit to Bihar since January, showing how important the state is becoming for the Congress party’s campaign.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rahul said:
“Young friends of Bihar, I will be coming to Begusarai on April 7th to join you in the ‘Palayan roko, naukri do’ campaign, walking shoulder to shoulder with you. The goal is to show the world the spirit of Bihar’s youth, their struggles, and their hardships.”
He further added:
“Come wearing a white T-shirt, ask questions, raise your voice—to put pressure on the government for your rights, to hold them accountable. Let’s come together and make Bihar a state of opportunities.”
Rahul explained the aim of the campaign in simple terms:
“The issues you face—unemployment, inflation, paper leaks, and the reduction in government jobs one after another, along with privatisation that doesn’t benefit you—are the reasons we are on this campaign. This is called the ‘Palayan Yatra’. Come and join us wearing a white t-shirt so that the world can see the emotions of Bihar’s youth and put pressure on the Bihar government. We want to mobilise the energy of Bihar’s youth and build a new Bihar.”
BJP hits back, says Rahul is creating problems
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s visit. Union Minister Nityanand Rai said:
“Rahul Gandhi has come to Bihar. Wherever he goes, he first creates problems for his alliance and his party. Here, he has come to create problems for Tejashwi Yadav. Lalu Ji’s party established the ‘jungle raj’. The people of Bihar have rejected corrupt people. They want development.”
Another BJP leader and Union Minister, Giriraj Singh, also criticised Rahul. He said:
“He (Rahul Gandhi) should seek atonement instead. Congress ruled for 60 years and raised the slogan of removing poverty, but they couldn’t eradicate poverty. The Narendra Modi government has lifted 25 crore poor people above the poverty line.”
He added:
“In Begusarai, his father had said that they would open a petrochemicals facility in 1985, but nothing ever happened. His eyes will be dazzled when he sees PM Narendra Modi’s roads and Nitish Kumar’s development in Bihar.”
You might also be interested in: Bihar woman raped near Bengaluru station; brother restrained
