Rahul says President's address same laundry list, Modi's 'Make in India' failed

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said on Monday that the President's address to the joint session of Parliament on January 31 was similar to last year's, calling it the same "laundry list" of things the government has done.

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Participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Gandhi said successive governments, whether the UPA or the present NDA, have failed to tackle unemployment and provide a clear answer to the youth regarding job opportunities. He also said 'Make in India' was a good idea, but the Prime Minister had "pretty much failed" in its implementation.

Gandhi presented an alternative vision that significantly enhances the participation of Dalits, tribals, and OBCS while ensuring that the energy and mobility revolution is not ceded to the Chinese.

He, however, acknowledged that successive governments, whether the Congress-led UPA or the BJP-led NDA, have not been able to resolve the issue of unemployment or offer a concrete solution to the youth.

Gandhi centred his address on what a presidential speech under an INDIA bloc government would look like.

Noting that India's future will be shaped by its youth, Gandhi said the country had previously grown at a fast pace but is now slowing down, failing to address the widespread issue of unemployment.

"Neither the UPA government nor today's NDA government has given a clear-cut answer to the youth about unemployment," the former Congress chief said.

"Manufacturing fell from 15.3 per cent of GDP in 2014 to 12.6 per cent today—its lowest share in 60 years," he said.

"I am not even blaming the Prime Minister because it would not be fair to say that he did not try. I think the Prime Minister tried, and conceptually, 'Make in India' was a good idea, but it is pretty clear that he failed," Gandhi said.