At Karnal rally, Rahul says youth facing employment crisis

In his first Haryana Assembly election rally, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi focused on the issue of youth unemployment. During his address, he shared harrowing accounts from his recent visit to Texas, where he met Haryana youths who had migrated to the US via "donkey route".

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He recounted conversations with 15-20 youths who described their nightmares, harassment, loss of companions, and the risks they faced while crossing treacherous routes, including the Panama jungle and open seas. Many shared that they had spent around Rs 35 lakh each, with some resorting to selling their agricultural land or borrowing money at high interest rates.

He also shared the conversation with families of these youths. "I met the family at Ghoghripur village in Karnal district. Family members were also in the same condition," he said.

He criticised the Modi government for systematically dismantling employment opportunities and claimed that policies, such as the controversial farm laws, had further marginalised farmers and small business owners.

He also highlighted the increasing drug menace in Haryana, alleging that drug trafficking was going unchecked while small businesses struggled.

During the campaign, he pledged to provide Rs 2,000 assistance to women, fill 2 lakh vacancies, 300 free units of power to households, and Rs 6,000 pension for the elderly. He also called for a caste-based census to accurately reflect the demographics and needs of Haryana's population, expressing concern over the marginalisation of OBC, Dalit, and Adivasi communities under the BJP regime.

He called upon people to unite for a government which would be for all. A former CM, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and state president Udai Bhan also addressed the gathering.