Synopsis
In a heated exchange, BJP's Amit Malviya rebuts Rahul Gandhi's claims about India's manufacturing decline, attributing it to Congress's historical policies while highlighting the current government's achievements and initiatives.Key Takeaways
- BJP blames Congress for India's manufacturing stagnation.
- Rahul Gandhi criticizes 'Make in India' initiative.
- Job creation in manufacturing has surged under Modi.
- India's chip manufacturing ecosystem is being built aggressively.
- Emerging technologies are crucial for future manufacturing growth.
New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) The BJP has fiercely critiqued Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the party has suppressed India's manufacturing capabilities for many years through the 'Licence Permit Raj' and perpetuating a tradition of economic mismanagement during the UPA period.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s critique of the Modi administration’s manufacturing strategies, asserting that Congress has bequeathed a legacy of stagnation in India’s industrial sector.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a recent address, omitted any mention of the 'Make in India' initiative.
"The PM ought to recognize that while 'Make in India' is a commendable initiative, it has ultimately failed. Manufacturing's contribution has dropped from 15.3 percent of GDP in 2014 to 12.6 percent -- marking the lowest point in the last 60 years," claimed Rahul Gandhi.
Malviya provided a robust response, accusing Congress of neglecting to develop a solid groundwork for India’s manufacturing industry during its governance.
"It's refreshing that Rahul Gandhi has finally acknowledged a truth known to the entire nation -- that even after a decade in power, the UPA failed miserably to generate jobs or bolster India’s manufacturing capacity," he stated in a post on X.
Pointing out historical errors, Malviya referred to a significant lost opportunity during the UPA administration:
"A glaring example of Congress’ detrimental approach to manufacturing is the 2006 scenario when Intel aimed to set up a multi-billion-dollar chip facility in India. The UPA government delayed essential policy decisions, compelling Intel to shift its investment to China and Vietnam. This singular mistake has set India back by decades in semiconductor manufacturing. Now, under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance, India is vigorously constructing its chip manufacturing ecosystem, ensuring such costly errors are not repeated," Malviya elaborated.
Rahul Gandhi also articulated a vision for rejuvenating India’s manufacturing sector, stressing the importance of focusing on emerging technologies.
"This vision for production in India must prioritize emergent technologies like electric motors, batteries, optics, and AI. This is the sole path to revitalize our manufacturing sector, enhance our manufacturing capabilities, and generate the jobs we require," he added.
He further remarked that China’s industrial supremacy provides it with confidence on the global front, arguing that India needs to establish a robust manufacturing infrastructure to compete.
"China is a decade ahead of us and possesses a more formidable industrial framework -- this gives them the confidence to confront us. The only route to compete effectively is to construct our production systems, which necessitates vision and strategy," Gandhi stated.
In response to Rahul Gandhi’s assertions, Malviya referenced employment statistics, claiming that job creation in the manufacturing sector has significantly outstripped the era of Congress governance.
"Here’s an undeniable fact -- RBI KLEMS data indicates that employment in the manufacturing sector expanded at double the rate in the past decade compared to the UPA period. From 2014 to 2024, an additional 17.9 crore jobs were generated -- as opposed to just 2.9 crore from 2004 to 2014," he explained.
Malviya contrasted the Modi administration’s reform initiatives with what he termed Congress’ policy paralysis, enumerating various actions like the PLI Scheme, regulatory reforms, and investments in manufacturing.
He also underscored key domains where the Modi government’s initiatives have resulted in notable growth, such as telecom equipment manufacturing, which he asserted has exceeded Rs 50,000 crore in sales under PLI, pharmaceutical exports, the drone sector, and the automobile industry.
"Congress’ strategy was to lament challenges. The Modi government addresses them. The statistics testify to the fact -- manufacturing is on the rise, jobs are being produced, and India is evolving into a global production hub. Rahul Gandhi may have finally recognized the UPA’s shortcomings, but India has already progressed beyond that lost decade," Malviya concluded.
