New Delhi: Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized on Sunday that the primary concern in the Lok Sabha elections is the issue of unemployment, which he attributed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance of creating 2 crore jobs, stating that it haunts the aspirations of the youth.

In an extensive post on his social media platform X, Kharge stated, "The predominant issue in these Lok Sabha elections is unemployment, imposed by the BJP. Our youth are grappling with joblessness, painting a grim picture for our demographic future." 

"Consider the situation in India's premier institutions - the IITs and IIMs. Across 12 IITs, approximately 30% of students face challenges in securing regular placements. Similarly, only 20% of the 21 IIMs have completed summer placements. If this is the scenario in our top educational institutes, one can extrapolate how the BJP has jeopardized the prospects of our youth nationwide," Kharge elaborated.

"The youth unemployment rate under the Modi government has tripled since 2014. According to the recent India Employment Report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), despite adding 70-80 lakh youths to the workforce annually, there has been minimal growth in employment between 2012 and 2019 - a mere 0.01% increase," he added.

"The 'Modi Ki Guarantee' of providing 2 crore jobs echoes as a nightmare for our youth," remarked the Congress leader.

"Any individual holding a diploma or degree below the age of 25 will now have a legal entitlement to demand employment and receive a minimum annual payment of Rs 1 lakh. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, paving the way for enhanced career opportunities," he emphasized.

Kharge reiterated on Saturday that unlike PM Modi, his party does not propagate false promises. These statements followed the release of the Congress manifesto titled 'Nyay Patra' on Friday, contrasting with the BJP's criticism labeling it as a "bundle of false claims."

"We have pledged to fulfill 25 assurances if our party assumes power. Unlike PM Modi, we do not engage in falsehoods. He has made numerous promises, but I question whether any of them have been realized. He pledged to generate 2 crore jobs annually. Hence, over the past decade, 20 crore jobs should have been created. I ask whether these 20 crore jobs have materialized," Kharge asserted.

Earlier on Friday, the Congress unveiled its 'Nyay Patra' manifesto for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, ensuring, among other commitments, a minimum support price (MSP) for farmers based on the Swaminathan Commission report.

The Lok Sabha elections are slated to occur in seven phases, commencing on April 19, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.

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