On Saturday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that while Modi excels at creating slogans, he lacks actual solutions for India’s economic challenges. Gandhi highlighted that despite the “Make in India” initiative, manufacturing in India is at a record low, youth unemployment is at an all-time high, and imports from China have more than doubled.
In a post on X, Gandhi claimed that since 2014, manufacturing’s contribution to India’s economy has dropped to 14%. He further alleged that the Prime Minister “has no new ideas” and has “surrendered,” pointing to the quiet rollback of the much-touted Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
Gandhi emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in India’s approach, advocating for policies that empower domestic producers through genuine reforms and financial backing. He asserted, “We must stop being a market for others. If we don’t build here, we’ll keep buying from those who do.”
To illustrate his point, Gandhi shared a video of his interaction with mobile repair technicians in Nehru Place, Delhi. He differentiated between “Made in India” and “Assembled in India,” explaining that while India may assemble products like iPhones, it primarily imports components, which ultimately benefits countries like China. He argued that truly manufacturing products, including intricate parts like motherboards, requires skilled labor, precise machining, and an understanding of tolerances, skills that are not easily acquired.
Gandhi also touched upon the societal aspect, suggesting that a lack of respect for physical labor and the underlying issue of caste contribute to India’s inability to foster a robust manufacturing base. He reiterated the Congress’s stance on conducting a nationwide caste census to understand how power and respect are distributed within Indian society.
