A political slugfest erupted on Saturday as Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the much-publicised ‘Make in India’ initiative had failed to deliver on its promises. Gandhi pointed to what he termed a “record low” in manufacturing and “record high” youth unemployment, accusing the government of promoting slogans over solutions.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote:
“‘Make in India’ promised a factory boom. So why is manufacturing at record lows, youth unemployment at record highs, and why have imports from China more than doubled? Modi ji has mastered the art of slogans, not solutions. Since 2014, manufacturing has fallen to 14% of our economy.”
He also shared a video criticising the government’s industrial policies and raised questions about the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, claiming it was being “quietly rolled back.”
BJP’s Sharp Response
Responding swiftly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s claims as “a mix of lies, drama, and twisted facts.” The party’s Andhra Pradesh vice-president, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, took to X to issue a detailed rebuttal.
In his post, Reddy issued a “reality check” to Gandhi’s assertions:
- Claim: Manufacturing is down
Reality: India is now the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally and is making significant progress in semiconductors, defence production, electric vehicles, solar energy, and pharmaceuticals. - Claim: PLI is being rolled back
Reality: The PLI scheme is being expanded, bringing in huge investments, generating employment, and shifting production from China to India. - Claim: China benefits
Reality: Reddy accused the Congress of having signed “weak trade deals” with China and even engaging in “secret pacts”, questioning who truly helped China more. - Claim: Youth unemployment is rising
Reality: The BJP highlighted job creation through startups, MSMEs, infrastructure projects, and rural development schemes.
Reddy wrote:
“Rahul Gandhi at it again with his usual mix of lies, drama, and twisted facts. Here’s a simple takedown of his latest claims on ‘Make in India’.”
Rahul Gandhi’s Broader Message
In his post, Rahul Gandhi also warned that India risks becoming “just a market for others” unless the country undertakes honest reforms to support its domestic producers.
“We must stop being a market for others. If we don’t build here, we’ll keep buying from those who do. The clock is ticking.”
The exchange reflects the increasingly heated political atmosphere as the debate over India’s economic trajectory intensifies ahead of upcoming legislative sessions and potential state elections.
While Congress continues to push for deeper structural reforms and accountability, the BJP maintains that its policies have laid the groundwork for long-term growth and industrial self-reliance.
