Not possible to provide jobs to all, so we promote self-employment: Amit Shah

Joblessness is not anywhere but in media reports, BJP national president Amit Shah said on Friday, rebutting that unemployment was on rise during three years of the Narendra Modi government .

The Opposition targeted the Modi government after official figures showed a marginal increase in unemployment - from 4.9% in 2013-14 to 5% in 2015-16.

The latest Labour Bureau report claims 1.52 lakh casual labourers lost jobs during October-December 2016. Prime Minister Modi had announced the recall of high-value notes on November 8.

"There is no system to get an accurate assessment about the availability of jobs," Shah told reporters at the BJP headquarters to list the government's achievements on its third anniversary.

As he



listed out Modi's achievements - from e-auction of coal mines, anti-corruption steps, pro-poor initiatives to launch of 104 satellites in one go - Shah said the NDA government tried to give a new outlook to employment.

"It is impossible to provide employment through jobs in a country with 125 crore people," he said.

"We have tried to create self employment opportunities for about 8 crore people."

Shah disputed reports about increasing unemployment. "Where have jobs gone? These are newspaper reports. Do you consider newspaper reports as truth? People don't," Shah replied to a query on joblessness.

His jibe though could draw criticism from the opposition, which is trying to turn tables on the BJP sail over rising unemployment.