Watch video: Massive protest erupts in Prayagraj against Yogi govt; youths clang utensils, demand employment

Braving the freezing cold, thousands of youths seeking employment took to the streets in the holy city of Prayagraj on the intervening night of January 4-5, shouting slogans against the CM Yogi Adityanath.

“Rojgar nahi to vote nahi (no employment, no vote),” they chanted during the march that took place in the city.

Supreme court lawyer Prashant Bhushan shared a video on Wednesday wherein the students can be seen protesting against the BJP government.

“Can you feel the anger brewing up in the youth? Youths who made you the King will dethrone you,” tweeted Anupam, President, Yuva Halla Bol – an independent youth movement.

Calling the protest “Allahabad Employment Movement” Govind Mishra, National Working President, Yuva Halla Bol, said, “We (youths) do not want (debate) on Hindu-Muslims or China-Pakistan but employment.”

Demanding immediate filling up of 97000 vacant posts of teachers, Mishra released a list of the main demands.

Spokesperson of Samajwadi Party and former president of University of Allahabad, Richa Singh attacked Yogi for rising unemployment and reiterated the demands put forth by the protesting youths.

“5 lakh vacant posts should be filled up,” she said.

Banging thalis and utensils, thousands of youths protested through the night, claimed journalist Abhay. He shared a video of youths marching on roads in the night.

Several videos were posted on social media by the youths. In one such video, angry youths can be seen tearing apart a BJP poster.

According to the data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) in the beginning of the new year, India’s unemployment rate reached a four-month high of 7.91% in December as compared to 7% and 7.75 per cent in November and October 2021 respectively.

As per CMIE, both urban and rural unemployment saw significant rise from 8.21% and 6.44% respectively in the last month.

The rise in unemployment, as per the data, is attributable to muted economic activity due to the rise of Covid-19 cases and subsequent unplanned lockdown announced by the governments.