Shyam Das, Asansol: While the ruling party across the country was celebrating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 74th birthday with various service-oriented and festive programs, a completely contrasting picture was seen in the industrial city of Asansol. Protesting against the rising unemployment and severe employment crisis under the current central government regime, the Paschim Bardhaman District Youth Congress observed the day as 'National Unemployment Day'. On Thursday, Youth Congress leaders and workers gathered in front of Rabindra Bhavan in Asansol and engaged in a very unique and symbolic protest by openly frying and selling pakoras.
During today's protest, Youth Congress workers launched a scathing attack on the policies of the central government. Their main argument was that while the country's youth had been promised employment over the past decade, job opportunities have actually been shrinking day by day. This pakora-frying program was undertaken to bring this burning problem of unemployment to the attention of the country's policymakers and the higher echelons of the government. Recalling a past remark by the Prime Minister, Youth Congress workers said that the Prime Minister himself had advised the country's youth to fry pakoras instead of hoping for jobs, and today's program was a satirical implementation of that very advice.
Anger was also expressed over another contemporary issue during this special protest. Instead of accepting digital transactions or UPI payments from customers for the sale of pakoras, everything was sold strictly for cash. The Youth Congress stated that this cash-only transaction was in protest against the rumors and ongoing procedures to impose taxes or charges on UPI transactions in various sectors. Centering around this sharp and innovative political program by the Youth Congress on the very important birthday of the Prime Minister, intense sensation and widespread discussions have begun in the political circles of Asansol. A mixed reaction has also been observed among the general public regarding this exceptional protest.
