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.
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