• Congress Declares PM's Birthday National Unemployment Day

    Politics
    Congress Declares PM's Birthday National Unemployment Day

    Digital Desk: The Congress claimed on Saturday that, in light of
    the country's "worrying" job situation, the youth are marking Prime
    Minister Narendra Modi's birthday as "National Unemployment Day," and
    demanded that he provide them with employment as promised.



    On Prime Minister Modi's 72nd birthday, the opposition party
    also wished him good health and a long life.



    "Our ideological and political fights with him continue.
    His personal vendetta against us grows more ferocious. Nonetheless, we wish and
    greet our Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 72nd birthday "Jairam
    Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said in a
    tweet.



    Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said at a press
    conference at the AICC headquarters here that the birthdays of Indian prime
    ministers have always been celebrated as special days.



    "Because of his fondness for children, Nehru Ji's birthday
    is celebrated as Children's Day, Indira Ji's birthday as Communal Harmony Day,
    and Rajiv Gandhi Ji's birthday as 'Sadbhavna Diwas.'



    "In fact, even Atal Ji's birthday in December is celebrated
    as Good Governance Day, which is why it worries and pains me that the youth of
    this country are celebrating Mr. Modi's birthday as National Unemployment
    Day," Ms Shrinate said.



    She expressed grave concern that, despite being the world's
    youngest country, 60% of India's working-age population is either unemployed or
    not looking for work.



    "In fact, 42% of young people aged 20 to 24 are
    unemployed." If this isn't a concerning situation, I don't know what is.
    And the prime minister can't hide behind Covid or the Russia-Ukraine conflict,
    because unemployment hit a 45-year high even before the first case of Covid was
    reported.



    "The latest unemployment rate of 8.3 percent is extremely
    concerning for our economy and population," Congress leader Paul Ryan
    said.



    PM Modi promised two crore jobs per year, but only seven lakh
    people have been hired in the last eight years, she claims, adding that 22
    crore people have applied for jobs.



    "In fact, this is a body blow because it primarily affects
    women. Their labor-force participation has decreased from 26% to 15%. It's also
    a double whammy because it comes on top of high prices and no wages "She
    stated.



    She questioned why there are no national debates and why the
    government refuses to address the critical issue of unemployment.



    "Every time you bring up unemployment and price increases,
    they want to talk about unimportant, irrelevant, distracting issues, and they
    promote disinformation," the Congress leader claimed.



    Ms Shrinate also listed the Congress' questions for the prime
    minister, including where the two crore annual jobs are and why there are 60
    lakh vacant central and state government positions.



    She questioned why MSMEs, which employ the greatest number of
    people, are subjected to the prime minister's flawed policies.



    "Why, despite public praise, is the private sector
    unwilling to invest, and thus jobs are not being created? Isn't it obvious that
    they don't believe in your policies because investment is an act of faith?
    Also, your overemphasis on just one or two billionaires, the 'Hum Do, Humare
    Do' model, ignoring the rest of the Indian industry's efforts to create jobs,
    "Ms Shrinate inquired.



    Referring to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, she
    questioned why the PM devised the "conspiracy" of employing youth for
    only four years and then retiring them at the age of 23.



    "On your 72nd birthday, Modi Ji, I wish you good luck and
    good health once more. But I am saddened to see that the country's youth are
    commemorating your birthday as National Unemployment Day "Ms Shrinate
    explained.



    "You still have two years left on your contract. I will
    only gently and humbly remind you that men in history are remembered for the
    work they did for our people, not for the monuments they built. Please go ahead
    and create more jobs, and most importantly, go ahead and start talking about
    unemployment and price increases "She stated.