‘Degree means nothing in India today’: Rahul talks of ‘dard’, ‘data’ and 'daulat' at ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Saturday spoke about “dard” (pain), “data”, and “daulat” (wealth) at the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, saying that degree certificates “mean nothing” in India today.Gandhi spoke before a large gathering of students and competitive exam aspirants, who turned up at Kayastha Pathshala (KP) Ground despite waterlogging and muddy patches.“This evening I want to speak to you about dard (pain), data, and daulat (wealth)…. Data aapka, dard aapka aur daulat inki (Your data, your pain, but their wealth),” he said.The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said India's 40 crore youths constitute its "greatest strength", adding that while there is much talk about America, China and Russia, "India's youths are unparalleled."Rahul Gandhi also raised his concerns about the debasement of educational credentials in the country. He said a degree certificate “means nothing in India today” because it does not lead to a job.“All doors of employment are closed in India,” Gandhi said."People's Data is snatched away and handed over to big companies. Then you're told—Make reels and content. But know this—reel is the new addiction of the 21st century. After all this, the youth are told: 'Work at Blinkit, Uber. Do labour, make reels, but you can't get a job in this country,'" he added.Also Read: ‘Need to check where we failed’: Tharoor says Cong's paper leak protest did not resonate as much as CJP'sA warm welcomeBefore his address in the evening, Rahul Gandhi was given a warm welcome at Prayagraj airport by party leaders and workers, including Ujjwal Raman Singh, the MP representing the Allahabad parliamentary constituency.The KP Ground, where the interaction took place, was waterlogged after overnight rain. Party workers were seen using buckets to drain the accumulated water in preparations for the event, news agency PTI reported.JCB machines were also deployed to spread limestone and sand across the waterlogged patches, while a road roller was used to level the ground.Gandhi on Friday said his visit to Prayagraj would focus on unemployment, recruitment delays and the challenges confronting students, arguing that the current system was failing to provide the country’s youth with adequate opportunities in education and employment.Ahead of his visit, the Congress leader said students were working hard to build their futures but were being let down by a system plagued by paper leaks, stalled recruitment processes and a lack of accountability.