Did BJP Really Dismiss Rahul Gandhi's Claims on PLI Scheme and Jobs?

New Delhi, June 21 (NationPress) In a surprising move, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the computer hardware market in Nehru Place, South Delhi, where he sharply criticized the alleged decline in manufacturing since 2014. This prompted a strong response from the BJP, which labeled his claims as 'misinformed and disconnected from reality'.

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s National Information and Technology Department, outlined the positive outcomes attributed to the government’s policies and provided a detailed reply to Gandhi’s accusations regarding the apparent failures of 'Make in India' and job creation initiatives.

Malviya stated, “India is now the world’s 2nd largest mobile phone producer. We have grown from just two mobile manufacturing units in 2014 to over 300 today. The so-called 'failed' PLI scheme, as termed by Gandhi, has attracted cumulative investments of Rs 10,905 crore, resulting in total production worth Rs 7.15 lakh crore and exports amounting to Rs 3.9 lakh crore,” he elaborated on X.

In a data-rich message, he added, “Electronics production value escalated from Rs 18,900 crore (FY14) to Rs 4,22,000 crore (FY24). Mobile phone exports skyrocketed 77-fold from Rs 1,566 crore (2014-15) to Rs 1.2 lakh crore (2023-24), with 99.2 percent of mobile phones sold in India now being manufactured domestically, up from just 26 percent in 2014-15.”

Malviya reminded Gandhi that “the government has sanctioned landmark semiconductor projects worth Rs 1.52 lakh crore, marking a significant advancement in deep-tech manufacturing. Overall, electronics production is projected to reach $300 billion by 2026.”

He also highlighted that under the PLI scheme for electronics alone, 1,39,670 direct jobs have been generated; 1.8 lakh new companies were registered in 2023-24, reflecting a 16 percent growth from the previous year, and electronics exports hit $38+ billion in FY24-25, a 32 percent year-on-year increase.

Earlier, Gandhi remarked on X, “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?”

He criticized, “Modi ji has mastered the art of slogans, not solutions. Since 2014, manufacturing has decreased to 14 percent of our economy.” As the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, he shared his experience from Nehru Place, stating, “I met Shivam and Saif -- talented individuals, yet deprived of opportunities. The reality is clear: we assemble, we import, but we don’t build. China benefits. Without new ideas, Modi ji has yielded.”

Gandhi claimed that even the much-lauded PLI scheme is being quietly scaled back. He stressed the necessity for a profound shift that empowers numerous producers through genuine reforms and financial backing.

“We must cease being a market for others. If we don’t build here, we’ll continue to purchase from those who do. The clock is ticking,” Gandhi concluded.