29 October,2023 03:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
AICC in-charge of NSUI Kanhaiya Kumar at a press conference/PTI
In a press conference at the Mumbai Congress office, party leader Kanhaiya Kumar made allegations against the Union government, asserting that drugs were being used as a tool to deceive the youth of the country, stated a PTI report. Kumar expressed concern about the significant quantities of drugs evading detection at various national ports.
"There are several tools to blindside the youth and one of them is drugs. The youth are being trapped in drug addiction and are being forced into a state of delirium so that they don't know what is being done to them, their community, their past, their future, and their entire country," Kumar was quoted as saying.
Speaking for the first time in Mumbai since being appointed in charge of the NSUI, the party's student wing, Kumar criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' slogan. He questioned the exclusion of thousands of individuals from their rights in the redevelopment process of Dharavi.
According to the report, Kumar also questioned the timing of the prime minister's launch of a special app for students, emphasizing the critical issue of unemployment. He urged the government to fulfill its old promise of creating two crore jobs annually, highlighting that in nine years, the pledge of 18 crore jobs remained unfulfilled. Kumar accused the government of attempting to privatize education, making it unaffordable for ordinary people.
The Congress leader drew attention to the alarming issue of student suicides, stating that, on average, a student in India takes their life every hour due to the stress of unemployment. He criticized the government's allocation of less than 10 per cent of the total budget to education, the PTI report further stated.
"Instead of making such announcements, he needs to fulfil his old promise of two crore jobs every year. In in his 9-year tenure, where are the 18 crore jobs? Not even 10 per cent of India's total budget is spent on education. It is clear the government wants to privatize education," he claimed.
"The common people cannot afford it. People spend their whole lives earning for children's school fees, uniforms, textbooks, and other things. With this on one side, students are under a lot of stress due to unemployment. On average, a student commits suicide every hour in the country today," Kumar claimed.
Reportedly, Kumar took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi, asserting that the nation would have been significantly better off had even 5 per cent of the PM's promises been realized. He called for a shift from "Mann Ki Baat" (speaking one's mind) to "Jan Ki Baat" (listening to the people's demands and desires).
Discussing the state of Maharashtra, Kumar accused the Eknath Shinde government of taking citizens for granted and stated that the people of the state were well aware of the situation.
To address the issue of unemployment, Kumar emphasized the necessity of changing the country's economic policy. He advocated a shift away from a centralized system in various sectors to create a level playing field for competition, promoting entrepreneurship and industry growth.
Mocking Deputy Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis, Kumar highlighted Fadnavis's marginalization despite having 105 MLAs. He expressed sympathy for Fadnavis, who had to serve as a deputy chief minister under a leader from another party.
"Despite having 105 MLAs, a person from another party was installed as the chief minister and he had to work as a deputy chief minister under him. I feel sorry for Fadnavis," Kumar said.
With PTI inputs
