How Big Is Unemployed Youth's Candle Campaign A Problem For Modi Govt?

The pandemic coupled with a crisis-ridden economy has worsened the unemployment situation in the country. To protest this, people across cities in the country, lit candles and lamps on Wednesday at 9 pm for 9 minutes. Earlier, youths have demanded employment in different cities by beating plates.

The intensity of the campaign can be gauged from the fact that more than 10 lakh tweets were posted just two hours since the trend #9baje9minute started. In this campaign, leaders of all opposition parties also expressed their support on Twitter and the 9-minute hashtag remained in the top trend at 9 am for almost three hours.

During the lockdown, Mahesh Notani, a user who became part of this campaign, took a dig at PM Modi's thali-banging appeal that he was clanging thalis for GDP growth. The PM had said that by banging plates, the coronavirus would run away, but it did not run, perhaps banging plates would fix GDP.

Peaceful protest against the government policies and appeal to provide jobs to youth and improve economy!#9बजे9मिनट #GrowGDPGrow pic.twitter.com/jxWsRv72B6

— Mahesh Notani (@mnotanii) September 9, 2020

The unemployed youth took out a candle march on the streets and protested against the Centre's decision of privatisation and raised slogans of 'Rozgar Do'.

Guys please spread it maximum and also retweet more and more #DeathOfDemocracy #9Baje9Minute #9Baje9MinuteIndia #9बजे9मिनट #KanganaRanuat #KanganaRanaut #ShameOnBMC #ShameOnMahaGovt #postman #KanganaVsSena #ShivSena #madametussaudsisoverparty #9बजे9मिनट #9Baje9Minute pic.twitter.com/kfsj2otxBH

— Raghvendra Rajput (@Raghvendra7055) September 9, 2020

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted in support of the campaign. 

देश के युवाओं को रोजगार चाहिए।

उनकी रूकी हुई भर्तियों की ज्वाइनिंग, परीक्षाओं की डेट, नई नौकरियों की नोटिफिकेशन, सही भर्ती प्रक्रिया और ज्यादा से ज्यादा नौकरियां चाहिए।

इसके बदले सरकार कोरे भाषण, लाठियां और उपेक्षा देती है।

आखिर कब तक? #9बजे9मिनट

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) September 9, 2020

Former UP CM and SP President Akhilesh Yadav shared a picture with his wife by holding a candle in his hand and said today the youth has started the countdown of the BJP's reign. 

आज आनेवाले कल के बदलाव का इतिहास लिख दिया
सियासत के आसमान पर रोशनी से इंक़लाब लिख दिया

आज युवाओं ने भाजपा के शासनकाल की उल्टी गिनती की शुरूआत कर दी है. हमने नौजवानों की ख़ातिर मोमबत्तियाँ जलाकर हमेशा की तरह आज भी उनका साथ दिया है और देते रहेंगे.#9Baje9Minute#9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/5HKiK2u2fL

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 9, 2020

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Yadav also participated in the campaign against unemployment by sharing a picture with his mother Rabri Devi and brother Tej Pratap Yadav and held Nitish Kumar responsible for the unemployment in the State.

करोड़ों युवाओं के जीवन से बेरोजगारी का अंधेरा भगाने और एक नया बिहार बनाने के लिए आज 9 तारीख़ को रात्रि 9 बजे 9 मिनट तक लालटेन जलाकर बेरोजगारी के खिलाफ चल रही मुहिम में अपनी भागीदारी सुनिश्चित की।

ये बिहार में जो बेरोजगार है
उसके ज़िम्मेवार
नीतीश कुमार है#9Baje9Minute #9बजे9मिनट pic.twitter.com/elerzOmKeN

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) September 9, 2020

For the past several years, the economy of India has been on a steady decline and the lockdown imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic in the country has brought all the businesses to a standstill. Recently, the Central for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) released data showing that more than two crores salaried people lost jobs within a span of five months in the country.