HALDWANI (UTTRAKHAND): Addressing a large public meeting in Haldwani district on August 8, 2026, Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Shri Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the Congress would form the government in Uttarakhand in the upcoming Assembly elections and promised that vacant government posts would be used to accommodate Agniveers, besides restoring the Old Pension Scheme in the state.

Shri Mallikarjun Kharge launched a broad attack on the BJP government over the police crackdown on protesting students in Delhi, flagged irregularities involving temple donations, unemployment, recruitment examinations and paper leaks in Uttarakhand.

He noted that the country’s education and employment systems had been “completely destroyed” and said that young people were obtaining degrees without acquiring the skills required for employment.

He cited the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to substantiate that the government had failed to meet its vocational education targets. He said that the NEP had envisaged bringing 50 per cent of students under vocational education by 2025, but pointed out that only around two per cent of the target had been achieved on the ground.

India produces around 50 lakh graduates every year, while only about 28 lakh graduate-level jobs are created annually, he said, adding, “This means the dreams of 22 lakh young people are shattered every year before they even get started.”

He alleged that the government’s economic policies were focused on benefiting a select group of large industrial houses rather than generating employment through productive investment. Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge observed that paper leaks had now become an “organised industry” and accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttarakhand of failing to stop recruitment irregularities.

Referring to several recruitment scams in Uttarakhand, including those involving the Subordinate Service Selection Commission, he said that government jobs were being “sold openly” and recruitment mafia was flourishing. He added that young people were unable to secure government employment unless they had money or strong political connections.

He also attacked the Centre over the police action against students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. He alleged that students were subjected to a brutal crackdown on the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, including the use of pellet guns, nails and electric shock-equipped batons.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Opposition had been raising the issue in Parliament for the past 15 days and demanding answers from the government. “But neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister is answering,” he noted, while asking whether this was democracy and whether it was not the government’s responsibility to answer questions raised by citizens and the Opposition in Parliament. He said that the government was avoiding accountability in Parliament because it had something to hide. Congress President strongly criticised the Agnipath recruitment scheme, describing it as detrimental to the future of India’s youth. He said that the scheme required young people recruited as Agniveers to leave the armed forces after four years, leaving them with an uncertain future.

He promised that if Congress comes to power in Uttarakhand, Agniveers would be accommodated against vacant posts in government departments.

He also announced that the ‘Old Pension Scheme’ (OPS) would be restored in Uttarakhand, on the lines of Himachal Pradesh, if the Congress forms the government. Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge also raised the issue of theft of temple donations, and accused the BJP and RSS of using religion for political and financial gain. He remarked that “loot” was taking place in the name of religion at various prominent shrines, including Kedarnath, Badrinath and the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Taking a dig at the BJP’s “double-engine government” slogan, he said that the “double engine” itself had failed, while the government’s E20 fuel policy was now causing problems for people’s vehicle engines.

He said that this land is known as the Land of the Gods, and it is a sacred land; and it is also the land of heroes, which is why I bow here. And there are two regiments here — one Kumaon and one Garhwal Regiment. They are very famous and renowned throughout the country. The first Param Vir Chakra was awarded here, which is why you can proudly say that we are people who fight for the country, protect the country, defend the country, and liberate the country.

Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge pointed out that today is a very sacred day. Why is it sacred? Today, in 1942, Mahatma Gandhi raised the voice of the “Quit India Movement.” And on this very day, such a large gathering is taking place here; it is a matter of great joy and pride for us. And the “Quit India Movement,” started by the Congress Party, brought independence to the country. Now, these RSS and BJP people talk a lot about it. Gandhiji raised this voice— “ Do or Die ,” “Quit India”—and the British trembled at Gandhiji’s voice and Gandhiji united the people with this slogan, and the people united and drove the British out of here. That is the contribution of the Congress. The BJP and RSS have done nothing for the country, nothing for independence. Tell me—has any RSS member gone to jail for the country’s independence? Have any BJP followers from your area gone? If they did, they would have been people who had fled while still in the Congress Party. But no one from the actual BJP took part in this movement.

He emphasized that this is your history, and you always teach us about patriotism! We are the real patriots, you (BJP-RSS) all are fugitives, and you took refuge with the British, sat at their feet, and you teach us! That’s why the Congress leaders and the Congress workers are not afraid of anyone, and no one can intimidate them.

Congress President said that we are here to protect our Constitution. The work we are doing is in the best interest of the country; we are doing it to save democracy; we are working to protect Dalits, women, and students. And the young people who are joining us today are joining to protect the country; we welcome them.

He also attacked the BJP and RSS for positioning themselves as the sole arbiters of patriotism. He said that those who had made no contribution to India’s Independence were now attempting to lecture others on patriotism.

“The real patriots are Congress workers,” the Congress President said, asserting that the Congress had consistently worked in the national interest and defended democracy and the Constitution. Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge also praised Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shri Rahul Gandhi for his outreach to people across the country. He said that Rahul Gandhi had walked from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to defend the Constitution and was constantly engaging with young people, farmers, the poor and students to understand their concerns. Towards the end of his address, quoting lines from a poem by Dushyant Kumar, he said that the lotus, the BJP’s electoral symbol, had begun to wither and called upon the people of Uttarakhand to form a Congress government to usher in progress.

Ahead of the rally, Congress leaders and workers staged a protest outside the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police in Haldwani. They alleged that buses and other vehicles carrying Party supporters were being stopped and checked to prevent them from reaching the venue.

The public meeting was attended by AICC General Secretary In-charge Uttarakhand Ku. Selja, Shri Ganesh Gondiyal, Shri Prakash Joshi, Shri Yashpal Arya, and senior leader from Uttarakhand. Congress workers were also present at the meeting.