RS LoP Kharge Corners Govt Over 'Widespread Unemployment', Slams BJP Over 2 Cr Jobs Promise

The Congress leader accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of failing to fulfil its 2014 promise to provide two crore jobs every year.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Lambasting Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government for not addressing the issue of unemployment, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said the Union Budget 2022 promises just 60 lakh jobs in the next five years.

“Widespread unemployment is prevalent in the country. Youths are in distress because big factories are shutting down, investment is not coming, and the number of government jobs is shrinking,” he said in the Rajya Sabha, ANI reported.

The Congress leader accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of failing to fulfil its 2014 promise to provide two crore jobs every year.

“In 2014, you (BJP) promised two crore jobs every year. You should have provided 15 crore jobs by now. But how many jobs did you actually provide?” Kharge asked.

The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said nine lakh posts are vacant in the Central government.

“About 15 percent of posts are vacant in the Railways, 40 percent in Defence and 12 percent in the Home Affairs,” he added.

Kharge further said the unemployment rate today stands at 9 percent in the urban areas, adding it is 7.2 percent in the rural areas.

The Leader of Opposition’s comments came a day after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sitharaman said the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has the potential to generate at least 60 lakh new employment opportunities.

“The PLI scheme for achieving ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ has received an excellent response, with potential to create 60 lakh new jobs,” she said during her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha.