The National Students Union of Congress (NSUI) along with Congress leaders took out a protest rally to the Chief Minister’s residence against unemployment and alleged failure of the Central Government to fulfil its promise to generate employment. The protesters including NSUI national president Firoz Khan and Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pritam Singh among others were stopped at the barricading set up by the police at Hathibadkala. After the protesters broke through the barricading, the police resorted to using a water cannon to prevent the protesters from rallying ahead. Both Khan and Singh have questioned the manner in which the police handled the protesters. They alleged that the police was acting under pressure from the State Government.
Earlier, a large number of NSUI and party members gathered at the Congress Bhawan. The protesters said that the Prime Minister had promised to generate two crore employment opportunities a year. But, after four years in office its Ministers were suggesting that youth should open Pakoda shops for livelihood. They alleged that the Central and State Governments had treated the youth in a biased manner.
In a memorandum addressed to the chief minister, the protesters state that the employment generation promise made by the BJP during the 2014 elections and the 2017 Assembly elections in Uttarakhand have not been fulfilled. They complained about budget cuts in education and scholarships.
Raising various issues related to education and employment, the NSUI warned that it would undertake intense agitation across the State if these issues are not addressed.