In a recent statement, Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s major policy decisions, specifically demonetization and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), accusing them of negatively impacting small businesses.
Gandhi’s remarks, made on Sunday, pointed to what he perceives as the detrimental effects of demonetization and GST on the livelihoods of small business owners, suggesting that these decisions have contributed to their downfall.
Addressing a gathering in Madhya Pradesh during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi highlighted India’s struggle with a larger population of unemployed youth compared to countries like Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Addressing a gathering in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the dire state of unemployment in India, asserting that it has reached its peak in the last 40 years. He highlighted that India’s unemployment rate is twice that of Pakistan and noted that the country has more unemployed youth than Bangladesh and Bhutan. Gandhi attributed this situation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies, specifically demonetization and the implementation of GST, which he believes have adversely impacted small businesses.
The 2022 World Bank report has brought to light India’s concerning youth unemployment rate, which stands at 23.22 percent, surpassing the rates in neighboring countries like Pakistan (11.3 percent) and Bangladesh (12.9 percent). Additionally, the Congress leader highlighted statistics on social injustice, revealing that 50 percent of the population belong to backward communities, eight percent are Tribal, and 15 percent are Dalit, totaling 73 percent.
Rahul Gandhi further emphasized that none of the individuals from these marginalized communities, constituting 73 percent of the population, are represented in major corporations. He critiqued Prime Minister Modi’s claims of working for the poor in light of this stark reality.
Rahul Gandhi went on to question the rationale behind opposing a caste census when it is essential for understanding the population and economic status of Dalits, Tribals, and backward classes. He challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that there is no caste division in the country, arguing that the existence of categories like Other Backward Classes (OBC) contradicts this claim.
Rahul Gandhi asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is apprehensive because he does not want the 73 percent of the population, representing marginalized communities, to uncover the truth about the country.