Congress Launches ‘Palayan Roko Naukari Do Yatra’ to Protest Unemployment in Bihar

Bettiah/ Patna: The Congress party launched the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukari Do Yatra’ from the historic Bhitiharwa Gandhi Ashram in West Champaran district, aiming to address the state’s worsening unemployment crisis and rising migration of youth in search of jobs. The padyatra, led by senior Congress and youth leaders, will travel across Bihar, culminating in Patna, as a symbolic fight for employment opportunities within the state.

A Political Battle Against Migration and Joblessness

The initiative, flagged off in the presence of Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Uday Bhanu Chib, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar, NSUI president Varun Chaudhary, and other senior leaders, is being framed as a mass movement against the alleged failure of the BJP-JD(U) government in providing employment to Bihar’s youth.

Following the flag hoisting, the national flag was handed over to Akhilesh Prasad Singh, marking the formal commencement of the yatra. The Congress drew parallels between the current movement and Mahatma Gandhi’s first Satyagraha in 1917, which also began from the Bhitiharwa Ashram in Champaran. Before setting off, party leaders paid floral tributes to Gandhi’s statue.

Congress Accuses BJP-JD(U) Government of Neglecting Youth

Krishna Allavaru, Bihar Congress and IYC in-charge, criticised the government for failing to address unemployment, saying: “The problems of Bihar are not even discussed today. Why is recruitment stalled? Why is there no focus on employment, education, and healthcare? Through this yatra, we will become the voice of the people and question the government.”

IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib called the march a final battle against migration, stating that Bihar has turned into a ‘stronghold of unemployment’ due to the government’s inefficiency.

“Lakhs of youth are forced to leave Bihar in search of jobs. The BJP-JD(U) government has failed them. We demand concrete policies for job creation so that Bihar’s youth can get their rights,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh lamented the decline of Bihar, which he said was once a center of knowledge and culture but is now a land of broken dreams and despair due to the exodus of job-seeking youth.

NSUI’s Kanhaiya Kumar Challenges Bihar Government

NSUI in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar directly challenged the Bihar government over the state’s worsening job crisis, stating: “The youth of Bihar are asking – when will they get employment? The government’s failure has fuelled joblessness and migration. Now, the youth will no longer remain silent. Through this yatra, we will demand answers.”

NSUI president Varun Chaudhary reinforced the party’s commitment to the issue, pledging that the Congress would reach every household in Bihar to mobilise public support. “This is not just a journey—it is a battle for a better future,” he said.

Political Implications

The Congress’s ‘Palayan Roko Naukari Do Yatra’ comes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with the party positioning itself as the champion of Bihar’s unemployed youth. The move is likely to put pressure on the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance, which has faced increasing criticism over job shortages and the exodus of skilled workers from the state.

With youth unemployment emerging as a key election issue, the Congress hopes to mobilise public sentiment against the government and revive its political standing in Bihar. However, whether this yatra translates into electoral gains remains to be seen.