Modi rejects allegations of rising unemployment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that crores of new jobs have been created in the country in formal and unorganised sectors including transport, hotels and infrastructure.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha yesterday, Mr Modi rejected the opposition's allegations of rising unemployment. He said, jobs have been created both in informal and formal sectors in last four and half years.

He said, informal sector accounts for 85 to 90 per cent while the formal sector provides only 10 to 15 per cent employment in the country. The Prime Minister said in 15 months till November 2018, 1.8 crore people got enrolled in the Employees Provident Fund for the first time.

Of these 64 per cent were below 28 years of age. He said, about 6 lakh 35 thousand new professionals have filed income tax returns in the last four years. Mr Modi said, the government has launched several initiatives like Skill India, Stand-Up India and Digital India aimed at promoting self employment in the country.

Taking on Congress over its criticism on Rafale deal, Mr Modi said, the opposition party does not want the Air Force to be strong and questioned whether it was bidding for a company.

He said, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has answered all questions on Rafale deal but the Congress is still misleading the nation. Mr Modi also accused the Congress of rendering the Army handicapped.

The Prime Minister said that the armed forces were adversely affected due to delay in procurements under the Congress rule and its personnel did not have bullet-proof jackets, proper shoes, communication equipment or even helmets.

He wondered why advanced jets were not procured for 30 years when India's neighbours were equipping themselves with latest weaponry. He said, the nation will not forgive the Congress party for this sin.

Taking a swipe, Mr Modi said, Congress party is surprised that there can be a defence deal without kickbacks. He said, they assume that a defence deal cannot happen without commission.

The Prime Minister said, the country has been progressing in all sectors including agriculture, milk output, steel sector and aviation in the last four and half years.  Mr



Modi said, his government is known for its honesty and transparency and for being sensitive to the poor.

He said, tackling corruption is the focus of the government and it is accountable to the people of the country. He said, the government is not running away from the challenges and  the fact is that it is tackling the challenges to fulfill the people's aspirations.

Mr Modi touched upon the achievements of his government, focussing especially on the welfare measures like providing LPG gas connections, housing to all, bank accounts for the poor and electrification in all villages.

Mr Modi hit out at the Congress on various issues and emphatically denied its charge of destroying the constitutional institutions.

The Prime Minister said, the Congress should look within as to how it had undermined these institutions during its rule at the Centre. Mr Modi said, the Congress had imposed emergency, bullied the judiciary, questioned the Election Commission over EVMs and insulted the Army over its surgical strikes.

He recalled it was Congress- led government at the Centre which had invoked Article 356 of the Constitution over 100 times to topple the  democratically elected state governments. He said, the proposed grand alliance of the opposition will not succeed  because of their inner contradictions.  He said, the people have seen how development has peaked under the NDA government with a full majority.

The Prime Minister said in their 55 years rule, the sanitation coverage was just around 38 per cent while it has risen to 98 per cent in just 55 months of the NDA rule.

Mr Modi said, LPG Gas connections in their 55 years was 12 crore and during the present dispensation, 13 crore LPG gas connections were given. He said, this government has worked at a greater speed.