‘Palayan roko, naukri do’: Congress’ march targets Bihar’s job crisis | India News

NEW DELHI: The Congress in Bihar has kicked off a state-wide pada-yatra themed “Palayan Roko, Naukri Do” (Stop Migration, Give Jobs), aiming to spotlight the massive unemployment crisis forcing lakhs of youth to leave the state.
Led by senior leaders including AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru, state Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, and Kanhaiya Kumar, the march began in West Champaran’s Bhitiharwa, the site of Mahatma Gandhi’s historic ashram. Youth and student volunteers of the party are set to cover multiple districts before reaching Patna.
‘No jobs, no future?’
Speaking at the launch, Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar took a sharp dig at the ruling NDA in Bihar, blaming it for failed employment policies.
“Every exam gets leaked or stuck in court battles. Even those who manage to get jobs, like government teachers, are denied pension benefits their seniors enjoyed,” he said.
Accusing the government of using communal politics as a distraction, Kumar added, “When a government fails to provide education, healthcare, and jobs, it fuels division in society.”
‘From education to honeymoon, people must leave Bihar’
In a fiery speech to young Congress workers, Kumar highlighted Bihar’s lack of opportunities.
“People leave Bihar not just for jobs, but for everything – education, healthcare, even honeymoons. No one comes here seeking a livelihood, and that’s why Biharis face humiliation outside,” he remarked.
When asked if he would contest the upcoming state elections, Kumar dodged the question, saying, “I’m only concerned about job aspirants getting seats—of employment, not politics.”
Congress eyes assembly polls with youth-focused campaign
While Congress is expected to contest the upcoming assembly elections in alliance with the RJD and Left, the pada-yatra is seen as an attempt to carve out its own identity in the state’s political landscape.
As the march moves through Bihar’s districts, the party is banking on frustration over joblessness to fuel its campaign. Whether this strategy pays off at the ballot box remains to be seen.