Rajnath Singh Faces Angry Slogans at BJP Rally in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: A campaign speech by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, was disrupted by men from the stands chanting slogans about jobs, particularly in the Indian Army. 

On stage, the minister inquired about the protest before assuring the guys that recruiting will go place. 

Men shouted chants like "Sena bharti chalu karo (start Army recruitment)" and "hamari maange poori karo (fulfil our demand)" at a gathering earlier today.

Mr Singh then attempted to calm the protesting youth by stating, "hogi, hogi (It will be done)," and "do not be concerned." 

"Your concern is shared by both of us. A few issues arose as a result of the coronavirus "He went on to explain.

Mr Singh,smiled then insisted that everyone sing "Bharat Mata Ki Jai." 

"If the BJP is re-elected in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP government would distribute free LPG gas cylinders on Holi and Diwali every year," Mr Singh added.

Last Monday, the BJP released its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh, promising jobs or self-employment to at least one member of each family in the state. 

In the last five years, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government has created crores of jobs in the public and private sectors, as well as self-employment prospects. On the ground, this assertion has been widely debated, particularly in Prayagraj, the state's coaching capital, where police pummelling students protesting irregularities in a railway exam last month.

If elected, Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP's top rival in Uttar Pradesh, has promised lakhs of jobs and the regularisation of current government posts. 

Many BJP supporters have claimed on social media that data from the independent think tank CMIE reveals that the jobless rate in Uttar Pradesh has dropped from 17.5 percent in 2017 under Akhilesh Yadav's administration to 4.2 percent presently. However, according to CMIE data, while Uttar Pradesh's current jobless rate is 4.9 percent, it was 3.8 percent between January and April 2017, just before the BJP came to power.

Between January and April 2017, the young unemployment rate than doubled, rising from 7.9% to 13.34% between March and August 2021. 

In the polls that spanned seven phases, two rounds of voting were conducted. On Sunday, voters will go to the polls in 59 Assembly seats across 16 districts in the state's third phase of elections.

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