New Delhi [India], April 11: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell chief Amit Malviya came down heavily on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday, accusing him of misleading India’s youth over alleged inaction on the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme. Malviya described Gandhi’s criticism as “gaslighting”, and claimed the Congress leader was intentionally spreading misinformation under the guise of ignorance.
“Either Rahul Gandhi’s team has completely failed to brief him on the facts, or—far more likely—he’s weaponising his trademark ignorance to gaslight India’s youth,” Malviya posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Rahul Gandhi’s Critique on ELI Scheme
Rahul Gandhi had earlier taken to X to question the status of the Rs 10,000 crore Employment Linked Incentive scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming it had “disappeared” after being showcased ahead of the 2024 general elections.
“Prime Minister, you announced ELI with great showmanship – but where has this Rs10,000 crore scheme disappeared? Have you abandoned our unemployed youth along with your promises?” Gandhi wrote.
Malviya Counters with Data
In response, Malviya compared job creation records under the UPA and NDA, stating:
- Only 2.9 crore jobs were created under the UPA (2004–2014).
- In contrast, 17.19 crore jobs have been created in PM Modi’s tenure (2014–2024).
- 4.6 crore jobs were created in the last year alone (2023–24)—more than the entire UPA decade, according to Malviya.
He also pointed to improvements in youth employability, saying the rate has jumped from 34% in 2013 to nearly 55% in 2024.
Internship and ELI Scheme Clarification
Addressing concerns over the ELI scheme, Malviya cited the PM Internship Scheme 2024-25, which has:
- Already offered 1.25 lakh internships.
- Engaged 327 companies to provide over 1.18 lakh internships across districts.
Allegations of Hypocrisy and Misinformation
Malviya ended his rebuttal by accusing Congress of policy paralysis and corruption during its rule, saying:
“Rather than misleading the youth, maybe take a moment to reflect on why your own government failed to offer them a future… you’ve forgotten Congress’ own track record—scams, corruption, and policy paralysis.”
Political Context
The exchange adds to the intensifying war of words ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where employment, youth empowerment, and economic growth remain central themes for both major national parties.