BJP and Congress: What’s the Truth Behind PM Modi's Semiconductor Claim?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi announced the launch of India's first 'Made in India' semiconductor chip.
- The BJP criticized Congress for its past inaction on semiconductor policies.
- Historical attempts to establish semiconductor factories faced significant setbacks.
- India aims to become a developed nation by 2047.
- Technological advancements are central to India's future aspirations.
New Delhi, Aug 15 (NationPress) The BJP and the Congress engaged in a fierce debate regarding the nation's semiconductor production capabilities, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's declaration in his Independence Day address that the first 'Made in India' chip is set to be launched by the end of this year.
Amit Malviya, who oversees the BJP's National Information and Technology Department, vehemently criticized Congress MP and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh after Ramesh dismissed PM Modi's chip announcement as a 'grand deception.'
Ramesh attempted to acknowledge the Congress government's role in establishing India's first semiconductor complex in Chandigarh during the early 1980s, while Malviya lashed out at the UPA government's alleged indecision that led to India missing out on Intel's bid to create a chip plant in 2007.
In a post on X, Malviya remarked, 'Relax, Jairam. You know nothing. Back in 2007, Intel was poised to invest billions in a chip facility in India. However, the Congress-led UPA stalled on a semiconductor policy, leading Intel to abandon its plans for India and instead pursue opportunities in China and Vietnam.'
In his Independence Day address, PM Modi reminisced about how earlier attempts to establish semiconductor factories 50–60 years ago were 'snuffed out at inception' while other countries thrived.
From initiating India's first semiconductor chip production to developing jet engines, and from a tenfold nuclear expansion to a Rs 1 lakh crore initiative for youth employment, PM Modi's message during his 12th Independence Day speech was clear: India will chart its own course, determine its own conditions, and strive to evolve into a developed nation by 2047.
Earlier, Ramesh commented on X, 'The pledge of a 'Made-in-India' semiconductor chip has been proclaimed multiple times – always with great fanfare, yet no results. Today's promise was, in fact, a significant lie, which has become the hallmark of PM Modi, as India’s first semiconductor complex was already built in Chandigarh during the early 1980s.'