Not possible to provide jobs to all, says Shah

BJP president Amit Shah has denied unemployment is on the rise during three years of the Narendra Modi government, and said it has tried to create self-employment opportunities

NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah on Friday rebutted the Opposition’s claim that unemployment had risen during the three years of the NDA government, saying joblessness was only present in media reports.

The Opposition has targeted the government after official figures showed a marginal increase in unemployment — from 4.9% in 2013-14 to 5% in 2015-16. The latest Labour Bureau report claims 1.52 lakh casual labourers lost jobs during October-December 2016.

“There is no system to get an accurate assessment about the job availability,” Shah said at BJP headquarters here.

The Congress demanded from the government a white paper its employment strategy but Shah rejected the demand, saying the previous UPA government would not have gone out of power had it thought of employment. As he listed the Modi government’s achievements — from e-auction of coal mine to launch of 104 satellites in one go — Shah said the NDA government had tried to give a new outlook to employment.

“It is impossible to provide employment through jobs in a country with 125 crore people,” he said. “We have tried to create self-employment opportunities for about 8 crore people.”

He also disputed reports about increasing unemployment. “Where have jobs gone? These are newspaper reports. Do you consider newspaper reports as truth? People don’t,” he said.

The Opposition is likely to continue targeting the Centre over unemployment, especially after big corporate houses laid off thousands to protect their profit margins amid a slowdown in economic activities.

Describing Modi as the “most popular public figure” of independent India, Shah said there was no comparison between the current regime and the Congress rule under Indira Gandhi.

“We have not imposed Emergency. We have not put a lock on your (journalist) mouth. You didn’t had freedom of speech in 1975. We are not like Mrs Gandhi,” he said.

Shah said the right-wing party’s victories after the 2014 election was “people’s certificate” to the PM as they believed that Modi was a ‘decisive’ leader who will restore the country’s glory and bring in transparency.

BJP, Shah said, had crossed several milestones over the last three years, and Modi managed to increase people’s self-confidence, gain prestige for India worldwide, and bring about a change in the country’s politics by eradicating the ills of nepotism, casteism and appeasement.

Shah also denied the allegation that his party was targeting opposition leaders. “If they have benami properties worth ₹1,000 crore, shouldn’t the government take action?” he asked.

Shah also backed Major Leetul Gogoi, who is in a controversy for using a civilian as a shield from stone pelters in Kashmir, saying his action had helped polling officials and policemen escape unhurt.

It is impossible to provide employment through jobs in a country with 125 crore people. We have tried to create selfemployment opportunities for about 8 crore.” AMIT SHAH, BJP national president