We have to save youth from hate politics: Rahul Gandhi on 32nd day of Bharat Jodo Yatra
Tumkur, Oct 9: Holding banners against "rising" unemployment and communal divide in society, a group of youths met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday and joined him in the Bharat Jodo Yatra which, the party said, seeks to highlight their issues.
Gandhi said some political parties were trying to spread hatred in the country by misleading youngsters.
The former Congress president, who was accompanied by senior leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka PCC president D K Shivakumar, interacted with many people, including children, women and a local singer, during his 20-km yatra on Sunday.
He appealed to the youth to join the yatra to spread the message of peace and brotherhood and unite India.
Sharing a picture of his interaction, Gandhi said these youths are saying that there is no room for hate in our beloved India.
"Why are the people of the country raising their voices against hatred? You all know it," he said.
The former Congress chief said a few years ago, the country did not have such an atmosphere as exists today.
"Earlier there was brotherhood, there was mutual love, but today it is not like this. And this is a big reason for the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra," he said in a Facebook post in Hindi.
Noting that the youth are the future of our country, he said, "They don't want hate, they want love, they want employment so that they can make the future of themselves, their family and country."
"Some political parties are misleading these youth, keeping them unemployed, for doing their hate politics," he said.
"We have to save the youth from going astray, create a better tomorrow for them, organise good education and employment," he said.
Gandhi said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is getting great support from the youth. "They are openly talking to me and I am listening to them. Our youth are so talented. Throwing them in the fire of hatred will destroy the future of the country."
Gandhi said people of every religion and every caste are walking together in the yatra, hand in hand, without asking each other's names.
If someone is left behind, people stop for him, if someone falls, people support him and pick him up, he noted.
"The beauty of this journey is its unity and integrity. Our India was like this before and we have to make that beautiful India again.
"We are all moving forward with the message of peace and people are continuing to join us. Come, let's raise the voice of these youth and unite India together," Gandhi said.
Tumakuru: Artists perform a street play as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi looks on during the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', in Tumakuru district, Sunday | PTI Photo
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UP SIR: Over 84 lakh voters added in final list, total electorate rises to 13.39 crore
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh's electorate grew by over 84 lakh to 13.39 crore after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to the final voter list published on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at the Lok Bhawan Media Centre here, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said the SIR exercise was conducted from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, covering all 75 districts, 403 assembly constituencies and polling stations across the state.
He said the 166-day exercise was carried out with the contribution of 75 District Election Officers (DEOs), 403 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 12,758 Assistant EROs, 18,026 BLO supervisors and 1,77,516 Booth Level Officers (BLOs). In addition, 5,82,877 booth-level agents of recognised political parties and crores of voters extended cooperation.
Print, electronic and digital media also played a key role in awareness efforts, he added.
Rinwa said the draft electoral roll published on January 6, 2026, had a total of 12,55,56,025 voters, including 6.88 crore male voters, 5.67 crore female voters and 4,119 third gender voters.
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group stood at 3,33,981, while the gender ratio was 824 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
The final electoral roll published on April 10 shows the total number of voters at 13,39,84,792, he said.
Of these, male voters number 7,30,71,071 (around 54 per cent), female voters 6,09,09,525 (45.46 per cent) and third gender voters 4,206 (less than 0.01 per cent).
The number of voters in the 18-19 age group has risen to 17,63,360, accounting for 1.32 per cent of the total electorate. The gender ratio has also improved to 834 female voters per 1,000 male voters.
Comparing the draft and final rolls, Rinwa said the total increase in the number of voters is 84,28,767. This includes an increase of 42,27,902 male voters, 42,00,778 female voters and 87 third gender voters.
The 18-19 age group registered a rise of 14,29,379 voters, while the gender ratio improved by 10 points from 824 to 834, he said.
Among districts, Prayagraj recorded the highest increase in voters at 3,29,421, followed by Lucknow at 2,85,961, Bareilly at over 2,57,000, Ghaziabad at 2,43,666 and Jaunpur at 2,37,590.
The CEO said the successful completion of the revision exercise reflects coordinated efforts by election officials, political parties and voters across the state.
