After Rajnath Singh's assurance, everyone erupts into Bharat Mata Ki Jai chant
A campaign speech by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda was interrupted by slogan-shouting men from the stands seeking jobs, specifically in the Indian Army.
The minister, who was on stage, enquired about the protest and then proceeded to assure the men recruitments would happen.
"Sena bharti chalu karo (Initiate recruitment in Army)", "hamari maange poori karo (fulfil our demand)" were the slogans used by men at the rally earlier today.
Mr Singh then tried to pacify the protesting youth, saying "hogi, hogi (It will be done)", "do not worry".
"Your worry is ours too. Due to coronavirus there were a few difficulties," he explained.
Then everyone erupted into "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" at Mr Singh's insistence, who was all smiles.
"If voted to power in UP again, the BJP Government will provide free LPG gas cylinder on the occasion of Holi and Diwali every year," said Mr Singh.
The BJP, which launched its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh last week, has promised jobs or self-employment opportunities to at least one member of each family in the state.
Chief Minister Adityanath had earlier tweeted that his government had provided crores of jobs in the government and private sector, and self employment opportunities in the last 5 years. This claim has been hotly contested on the ground, especially in the state's coaching hub Prayagraj where the police assaulted students protesting irregualities in a railway exam last month.
The BJP's chief challenger in UP, Akhilesh Yadav has promised lakhs of jobs and regularisation of existing government jobs if voted to power.
Many BJP supporters have claimed on social media that data from the independent think tank CMIE shows UP's unemployment rate is down from 17.5 percent in 2017 during Akhilesh Yadav's rule to 4.2 percent right now. But CMIE 's data actually shows while Uttar Pradesh's current unemployment rate is 4.9 percent, the rate between Jan-April 2017, just before the BJP came to power, was 3.8 percent.
The unemployment rate among youth almost doubled from 7.9 percent between Jan-April 2017 to 13.34 percent between March- August 2021.
Two rounds of voting have been completed in the polls stretched over seven phases. Polling in the third phase of the elections will be held in 59 Assembly seats in 16 districts of the state on Sunday.