Prayagraj

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he was coming to Prayagraj to discuss unemployment and the challenges faced by students, asserting that the country's youth today have "no future" in education or employment under the present system. He also called for collective action to change the situation.

In a post on X, Gandhi said, "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.

प्रयागराज आ रहा हूं - देश के उस शहर में जहां सबसे ज़्यादा नौजवान तैयारी करते हैं।

एक बात साफ़ है: यहां का हर छात्र जानता है कि system बेईमान हो चुका है। आपकी मेहनत में कोई कमी नहीं - कमी उस system की नीयत में है जो आपकी मेहनत का दाम नहीं देती।

पेपर लीक, रुकी भर्तियाँ, सालों का… pic.twitter.com/upgHb0GiM0

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 7, 2026

"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 tomorrow. You should come too. August 8, 5 pm, KP Ground, Prayagraj."

In a video message accompanying the X post, Gandhi said, "I am listening to what students have to say. I am coming to Prayagraj to discuss employment and the situation you are facing. I fully accept that in today's India, whether it is education or employment, our students have no future.

"We all have to change this situation together. With your energy and your voice, we can together resolve this problem."

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said all necessary clearances have been secured for Gandhi's "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme in Prayagraj after police granted permission, subject to certain conditions.

The conditions include adherence to noise norms, maintenance of law and order, deployment of volunteers for crowd management and no use of provocative or derogatory remarks against any political and non-political organisation, religion, caste or community, according to the police order.

"We have secured the clearance. Now there is no hurdle," Rai told PTI, adding that the party is fully prepared to make Gandhi's interaction with students on Saturday a success.

The Congress has planned a motorcycle rally in Prayagraj on Friday evening to create awareness about Saturday's programme, Rai said.

"If there is no mischief, we are expecting record turnout for Rahul ji's event," the UP Congress Committee chief, who has been virtually camping in Prayagraj for the past couple of days, said.

The event is scheduled to be held at KP Ground after the Kayastha Pathshala (KP) Trust on Thursday night restored permission a day after withdrawing it.

Acting president of the KP Trust Jitendra Nath Chaudhary had told PTI that the organisers were allowed to hold the programme after consultations with legal experts, subject to conditions that teaching and academic activities at the college are not disrupted and the requisite permission be obtained from the district magistrate.

The police have also granted permission for the event, scheduled from 4 pm to 9 pm on Saturday at KP Ground on MG Road in the Georgetown area, subject to a series of conditions. The permission names Rai, in his capacity as the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president, as the organiser of the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme.

According to the order, the organisers have been directed to ensure compliance with noise pollution norms, maintain law and order, deploy volunteers for crowd and traffic management, make adequate parking arrangements, and ensure that no public road is obstructed.

The organisers will also be held responsible for any stampede, damage to public or private property, or any other untoward incident during the programme.

It also requires strict compliance with directions issued by the police and civil authorities, provisions of Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and all applicable court orders and government guidelines.

"The permission would automatically stand cancelled in case of any violation of the conditions or disturbance to public order," the police order stated.

The trust had on Wednesday revoked permission for the August 8 programme, citing an Allahabad High Court order dated August 14, 2025, restricting the use of the KP College ground for sports and educational activities, besides waterlogging at the venue following recent rains.

The Congress had accused the Uttar Pradesh government of trying to scuttle the event and alleged that the venue provider was being pressured by the administration to withdraw permission. The BJP government has rejected such allegations.

According to Gandhi's itinerary shared earlier by Rai, he will leave Delhi by a special flight at 2 pm on Saturday and reach Prayagraj airport around 3.30 pm.

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He will then travel to Anand Bhavan (Nehru-Gandhi family's ancestral home-turned-museum) before attending the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" interaction with students at KP Ground from 6 pm to 8.30 pm. Gandhi is scheduled to return to Delhi by a special flight later in the evening.