National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders on Sunday launched a coordinated attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, accusing him of displaying 'double standards' on student issues and misleading the youth rather than offering genuine solutions.

Key Accusations from NDA Leaders

Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad questioned why Gandhi had not visited Ranchi despite a student agitation in Jharkhand running for approximately 16 days. 'There has been an agitation by the students of Jharkhand for around 16 days, and Rahul Gandhi has still not reached Ranchi. Despite the students peacefully staging the agitation without any provocation, Rahul ji doesn't go there and is instead seen in Uttar Pradesh, apart from being active with the protests in Delhi. So, the students will seek answers for that too,' Prasad said. He also pointed to alleged silence from the Indian National Congress (Congress) over exam irregularities in Punjab.

BJP Counters on Employment and UPA Record

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Guru Prakash challenged Gandhi to compare average unemployment figures during the 10-year United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure with those under the NDA, asserting the 'truth will become crystal clear.' He pointed to schemes such as Mudra and Start-up India as evidence of youth empowerment, arguing that young people had moved 'from merely having bank accounts to self-employment and self-reliance.'

Bihar Minister and BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav directly targeted Gandhi's claims that the current system had curtailed military employment and compromised universities. 'Rahul Gandhi is misleading the youth. Everyone knows that the Congress ruled the Centre and the states for nearly 60 years after Independence. If the youth are misguided today or the country is facing issues such as unemployment, the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi and his family are responsible for them,' Yadav said.

Shiv Sena Questions Gandhi's Vision

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC argued that Gandhi's voice was 'hardly being heard' and accused him of lacking a concrete vision, plan, or agenda. She credited the Centre with addressing concerns that emerged in the wake of the NEET exam controversy, saying the government had tackled issues 'point by point.' She added that 'just making statements and spreading false narratives will not provide any solution to the students.'

Opposition Pushes Back

Not all voices were critical. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Member of Parliament Manoj Kumar Jha came out in support of Gandhi, arguing that the BJP's response to the Opposition leader's remarks was reflexive rather than substantive. 'If Rahul Gandhi says it, the BJP IT cell immediately starts jumping in. Look at the employment rate, and especially the rate of unemployment among educated people. Even if I set aside the unskilled workforce for a moment, isn't this a cause for concern?' Jha said. He described the current economic architecture as 'unjust,' warning that a 'very large section' of young people viewed their futures as 'uncertain and bleak.'

This comes amid a broader political contest over the youth vote ahead of upcoming state elections, with both the NDA and the Opposition seeking to frame the student unemployment and exam irregularity debates in their favour. How Gandhi's Prayagraj outreach lands with students — and whether the NDA's counter-narrative gains traction — will likely shape the next phase of this political battle.