BJP, Samajwadi Party Trade Barbs As Jobs Chorus Grows In UP Poll Run-Up

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of lying about creating jobs during the BJP's tenure

Dibyendu Mani, 26, was among the hundreds detained today during a march in Lucknow to protest against unemployment, which has emerged as a key issue in the run up to the 2022 Assembly elections in politically-significant Uttar Pradesh. #PurvanchalExpresswayUnemployment Rate in Uttar Pradesh : (CMIE)2017 - 17.5%2021 - 4.2 % Today------------------Ease of Doing Business Rankings of UP( World Bank Data)2017 - 122020 - 2Uttar Pradesh is progressing like never before@myogiadityanath

Mr Mani is an activist with Yuva Halla Bol, which describes itself as a nationwide youth movement against unemployment. Besides demanding jobs, Mr Mani and others, who were marching to the state Assembly, also want accountability fixed for a recent paper leak that affected 20 lakh job aspirants after an exam to recruit teachers in 50,000 government posts was cancelled.

Before being pushed into a police van, Mr Mani told NDTV that he and many others are staring at an uncertain future. "Employment is the biggest issue. We can see only darkness in front of us. I am 26 but still appearing in exams. The UP government's claim of creating 4.5 lakh jobs in the past five years is not true, it is just 'jumlebaazi'. The government did come out with some police vacancies, but there have been no more vacancies. They must be adding the MGNREGA employment numbers to this figure," he claimed.

In its 2017 manifesto, the BJP had promised to create 70 lakh employment or self-employment opportunities if it was voted to power. Now, with months to go for the state polls, top party leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, are talking about creating 4.5 lakh government jobs.