New Delhi, Sep 26: Highlighting unemployment as the biggest challenge, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit out at the frequent alleged paper leaks in staff selection exams, sharing a new slogan ‘Paper Chor, Gaddi Chhor’ to target the BJP.

Gandhi showed solidarity with jobless youth and pointed to a recent paper leak in Uttarakhand, saying, “Today, the BJP’s other name is ‘Paper Chor’ (paper thief)! Repeated paper leaks across the country have ruined the lives and dreams of millions of hardworking youth.”

In a sharp attack on the BJP on the social media platform X, Gandhi said, “The paper leak in Uttarakhand is the latest example. Millions of youth worked day and night, but the BJP ruined all their hard work by stealing.”

Slamming the Union government for alleged inaction and failure to prevent paper leaks, the Congress MP from Raebareli, said, “We have been continuously demanding that a robust and transparent system be established to prevent paper leaks. But the Modi government is turning a blind eye to this – because they are concerned not with youth unemployment, but with their own power.”

Gandhi also criticised the government for alleged failure to address unemployment. “Unemployment is the country’s biggest problem today, and it is directly linked to vote theft. ‘Paper Chors’ know that even if youth don’t get jobs, they will remain in power by stealing votes in elections.”

Youth are on the streets, chanting, “Paper Chor, Gaddi Chhor (Paper Thieves, Vacate the Throne)!” he said.

Gandhi described the fight against paper leaks as crucial for democracy. “This isn’t just a fight for youth jobs; it’s a fight for justice and democracy. I stand firmly with every student and youth in this fight for justice.”

The slogan circulated by Gandhi on Friday is the latest version of his earlier slogan ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor’ (Vote thief, Vacate the Throne), which he has been shouting at political rallies, accusing the BJP of manipulating elections in collusion with the Election Commission of India.

In a social media post on September 23, Gandhi identified joblessness as the biggest challenge before the youth, claiming that unemployment levels had risen to the highest in 45 years.

“When any government comes to power by winning the trust of the people, its first duty is to provide employment and opportunities to the youth. But the BJP does not win elections honestly – they stay in power by stealing votes and holding institutions captive. That’s why unemployment has reached its highest level in 45 years,” he wrote on X.

Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said that India has to make its own decisions for the benefit of people here, just as the US does for itself, adding that the use of swadeshi goods needs to be increased.

The remarks come after the Trump administration decided to impose a 100 per cent tariff on branded and patented pharmaceutical products by the US on India beginning October 1.

Speaking to reporters here, Pawar stated that it was India’s responsibility to respond to decisions concerning the country in a dignified manner and to solely increase the use of swadeshi goods.

“Alright, we can make decisions about our own country, just as they are making decisions for theirs. If Trump or any other country’s leader has made a decision, it is because the people in that country have elected them, and thus they are exercising their right to make such decisions. Our responsibility is to respond to any decision concerning our country in a dignified manner and to increase the use of products made in our own country (swadeshi goods),” he said.

Remembering Mahatma Gandhi’s call for Swadeshi, Pawar said, “Now it has been reiterated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has been 75 years since our country gained independence, and now many items in our country are available in even higher quality than those imported from abroad. In fact, there are many things, such as clothes and others, that are manufactured here, but they sell them abroad by labelling them as made in their country.”

The Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50 per cent of global demand for various vaccines, 40 per cent of generic demand in the US and 25 per cent of all medicines in the UK. India’s annual drug and pharmaceutical exports touched a record USD 30 billion in FY25, bolstered by a 31 per cent year-on-year surge in March.

According to a government release, drug and pharmaceutical exports increased by 6.94 per cent from USD 2.35 billion in August 2024 to USD 2.51 billion in August 2025 alone.

According to a separate government report, India’s pharmaceutical industry is a global powerhouse, ranking third in the world by volume and 14th in terms of production value. It supplies over 50 per cent of global vaccine demand and nearly 40 per cent of generics to the US. The industry is projected to grow to USD 130 billion by 2030 and a USD 450 billion market by 2047.

Kolkata, Sep 26: The Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered that all students’ hostels attached to Kolkata’s iconic Jadavpur University will remain closed for the entire Durga Puja vacation.

The Division Bench of Justice Sujay Paul and Justice Smita Das De also directed the Jadavpur University authorities to ensure that the students’ hostels attached to the university are closed within the next 48 hours and remain closed till the last day of the festival vacation.

The Bench observed that the decision was necessary to ensure that outsiders do not get access or entry to the hostel during the festival vacation period.

The division bench also advised the Jadavpur University authorities to take the help of the police if necessary to prevent the entry of outsiders in the hostels during the vacation period.

The division bench also advised the Jadavpur University authorities and the West Bengal Education Department to hold a meeting after the festival vacation period to discuss and decide on measures to be adopted to ensure in-campus security, especially as regards the installation of CCTV machines within the campus.

Based on the decision taken at the meeting, the university will have to submit a report to the same division bench on the date when the matter will come up for hearing after the festival vacation at the Calcutta High Court.

To recall, on March 2 this year, State Education Minister Bratya Basu faced students’ agitations while he reached Jadavpur University to attend a function of Trinamool Congress-affiliated West Bengal College and University Professors’ Association (WBCUPA).

In that scuffle, Basu and two agitating students of the university were injured.

After that, public interest litigation was recently filed at the Calcutta High Court regarding security issues within Jadavpur University. Earlier, in the hearing of this case, the Calcutta High Court had said that no political personality could be invited to any function or seminar at Jadavpur University.