Rahul Gandhi Launches ‘White T-shirt Yatra’ in Bihar to Protest Unemployment, Migration

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday joined the ongoing Palayan Roko, Naukri Do padyatra in Bihar’s Begusarai district, energizing the youth-led movement against unemployment and large-scale migration from the state. The march, dubbed the ‘White T-shirt Yatra,’ aims to draw attention to pressing issues such as job scarcity, inflation, exam paper leaks, and the reduction in government recruitment.

Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by Congress leader and national in-charge of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), Kanhaiya Kumar, as he walked shoulder to shoulder with protesting youth.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi urged Bihar’s youth to join the campaign in large numbers, wearing white T-shirts as a symbol of unity and resistance. “Young friends of Bihar, I will be coming to Begusarai on April 7th to join you in the Palayan Roko, Naukri Do campaign. Come wearing a white T-shirt, ask questions, raise your voice to hold the government accountable,” he wrote.

Gandhi emphasized that the campaign is meant to showcase the strength, struggles, and aspirations of Bihar’s youth. “Let’s come together and make Bihar a state of opportunities,” he added.

This marks Rahul Gandhi’s third visit to Bihar since January, signaling the Congress’s growing focus on youth-centric issues in the state.

He further highlighted key concerns driving the movement. “Unemployment, inflation, paper leaks, dwindling government jobs, and privatization that doesn’t benefit the common youth—these are the reasons behind this campaign,” Gandhi said.

Reacting to the Congress campaign, Union Minister Nityanand Rai criticized Gandhi’s visit, claiming it would only create confusion within the opposition alliance. “Wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, he creates problems for his alliance partners. Here, he is creating trouble for Tejashwi Yadav and his party, which gave rise to jungle raj,” Rai said.

Echoing this sentiment, Union Minister Giriraj Singh mocked the Congress leader, saying, “Rahul Gandhi will be dazzled when he sees the development under PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar.”

Singh also pointed out that while Congress ruled India for decades with slogans like ‘Garibi Hatao’ (Remove Poverty), it failed to deliver on its promises. “Modi government has lifted 25 crore people out of poverty. In Begusarai, his (Rahul Gandhi’s) father had promised a petrochemical facility back in 1985, which never materialized,” Singh added.

The Palayan Roko, Naukri Do yatra is gaining momentum as a symbolic resistance movement, particularly among Bihar’s youth grappling with economic challenges. While the Congress attempts to tap into growing dissatisfaction, the BJP remains firm on its narrative of development and economic progress.