Mumbai, August 9: In a sharp response to the Congress event “Students’ Echo” led by Rahul Gandhi in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar expressed skepticism regarding the rally’s turnout and the party’s political influence. Despite three months of preparation and efforts to gather attendees from 23 districts, Rajbhar noted that only about 5,000 people showed up, raising doubts about Congress’s standing in Uttar Pradesh.
Rajbhar highlighted that preparations for the rally had been extensive, with claims of around 300,000 registrations and significant financial investments in infrastructure such as tents, hoardings, and posters. He suggested that this turnout should serve as a wake-up call for Rahul Gandhi regarding the actual political landscape of Congress in the state.
The minister also questioned Congress’s focus on issues concerning students and youth, urging party leaders to familiarize themselves with the Uttar Pradesh government’s initiatives and current systems before making statements. He pointed out that under the Chief Minister‘s Entrepreneurial Scheme, loans are provided to youth without guarantees and interest, aiming to benefit five lakh individuals, with over two lakh already availing themselves of this opportunity.
Rajbhar criticized Rahul Gandhi over allegations of paper leaks and issues related to examinations, referencing the previous Samajwadi Party government. He claimed that during that time, there were frequent reports of exam papers being sold and cheating, with candidates often taking papers to fields to solve them or submitting answers after working on them at home. He advised Gandhi to consider the conditions during the tenure of his allied parties before raising concerns about examination integrity.
Discussing government job opportunities under the Yogi Adityanath administration, Rajbhar asserted that over nine lakh government positions have been filled without any financial transactions involved. He contrasted this with complaints of corruption in previous administrations, where unqualified candidates often advanced due to monetary influence.
Rajbhar also took a jab at the Congress organization and its political clout in Uttar Pradesh, noting that the party’s state president and in-charge had previously claimed they would win a significant number of seats. However, the turnout at Rahul Gandhi’s rally indicated a different reality. He humorously suggested that the party might need to reconsider whether to allocate 20 seats to its allies in light of their poor performance in Prayagraj.
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