Berlin, Dec 23 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has voiced his belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for India is fundamentally misguided and destined to fail, alleging that the country has essentially transferred its production base to China.

While addressing an audience at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany, on the topic of 'Politics Is The Art Of Listening', Gandhi emphasized a profound ideological conflict regarding the very essence of India.

"Many of us do not share his ideology; we disagree with the vision of India he presents. We believe this vision will fail and is fraught with significant issues, inciting considerable tension among Indian citizens, which we will contest. This represents a clash between two divergent visions of India," Gandhi remarked during his speech.

He further asserted that the manufacturing sector in India has deteriorated significantly under the BJP-led government at the Centre, noting that the contribution of manufacturing to the GDP has plummeted from 17% to 12% during their governance.

Gandhi criticized what he described as the outsourcing of production to China, arguing that this trend has drastically hampered job creation and poses long-term threats to the democratic fabric of the nation.

"In many respects, India has relinquished production to the Chinese. Historically, in the 1940s and 1960s, it was the United States that led production, followed by Germany, Italy, Japan, and Korea. Today, however, China is the leader in production," he stated.

Expounding on the implications, Gandhi added, "This means it is increasingly challenging to provide substantial employment opportunities. Countries like India, the US, or even Germany cannot solely rely on services to employ their populations. We need manufacturing and production capabilities, which we have surrendered to China."

He also engaged in the global discourse surrounding democracy and production, saying, "In this transition, how can democracies maintain production? China has demonstrated that production can thrive in a non-democratic setting. We must show that production is feasible within a democratic framework."

Gandhi emphasized that manufacturing, along with micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as agriculture, is crucial for generating widespread employment in India.

He called for reforms in the Goods and Services Tax framework and industrial policy to enhance domestic production.

Additionally, the Congress leader reiterated his critique of demonetisation, which he claimed severely impacted small businesses, linking this policy to the broader decline in manufacturing's role in the national GDP.