Rahul Gandhi backs students protesting against paper leak in Uttarakhand, calls BJP 'paper chor'
New Delhi(PTI): Extending his full support to students protesting against a recent paper leak in Uttarakhand, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said unemployment is directly linked to "vote chori", and alleged that the other name of BJP is "paper chor".
In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also alleged that the BJP is not bothered about jobs for the youth but about remaining in power through "vote chori" (vote theft) during elections.
"Today, BJP's other name is 'Paper Chor'! The repeated paper leaks across the country have ruined the lives and dreams of millions of hardworking youth," he said in his post in Hindi.
Gandhi said the recent paper leak in Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UKSSSC) graduate-level examination is the latest example, where lakhs of youth toiled day and night but BJP dashed all their hard work through theft.
"We have been continuously demanding that a strong and transparent system be created to stop paper leaks. But the Modi government is turning a blind eye to this, because they are not concerned about youth unemployment, but about their own power," Gandhi alleged.
Noting that unemployment is the biggest problem facing the country today, which is directly linked to "vote chori", the Congress leader alleged that "the 'paper chors' know that even if the youth don't get jobs, they will remain in power by stealing votes during elections".
"The youth are on the streets, raising the slogan 'Paper Chor, Gaddi Chhod' (paper thieves, leave the throne)," he claimed.
Asserting that this is not just a fight for jobs for the youth, Gandhi said it is a fight for justice and democracy.
"I stand firmly with every student and youth in this fight for justice," he said, using the hashtag '#PaperChorGaddiChod'.
Gandhi had coined the term "vote chori" during his recent Voter Adhikar Rally in poll-bound Bihar to highlight his allegation that polls had been "rigged" in the country.
Gandhi has been accusing the BJP of indulging in "vote chori" during elections, claiming that it sought to "illegally" delete and add votes in "connivance" with the Election Commission, a charge which both the ruling party and the poll body vehemently denied.
Amid the uproar caused by the leaking of three pages of a question paper during a competitive examination for various departments on September 21, a large number of students, under the banner of the Uttarakhand Berozgar Sangh, have put up tents on the road outside the Parade Ground in Dehradun where they are sitting on an indefinite strike.
आज BJP का दूसरा नाम है - पेपर चोर!
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 26, 2025
देशभर में बार-बार होने वाले पेपर लीक ने करोड़ों मेहनती युवाओं की ज़िंदगी और सपनों को तबाह कर दिया है।
उत्तराखंड का UKSSSC पेपर लीक इसका ताज़ा उदाहरण है। लाखों युवाओं ने दिन-रात मेहनत की, लेकिन BJP ने चोरी से उनकी पूरी मेहनत पर पानी फेर दिया।… pic.twitter.com/dr0yHX61hq
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
