Congress leader Rahul Gandhi voiced strong criticism against the administration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’s Madhya Pradesh segment, as he accused Modi of severely damaging small-scale businesses, contributing to a surge in unemployment, surpassing rates seen in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Speaking to an audience in Gwalior, Gandhi pointed out that India’s unemployment rate is now twice that of Pakistan, standing at 23% compared to Pakistan’s 12%. He attributed this alarming rise to the highest unemployment level witnessed in the country over the past four decades directly to Modi’s policies, particularly demonetization and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which he believes have led to widespread joblessness.
Gandhi’s journey with the Congress’s yatra included a brief halt in Gwalior, pausing thereafter for Gandhi to participate in a rally in Patna, the capital of Bihar, organized by the INDIA bloc.
During his engagements in Gwalior, including conversations with Agniveers and former servicemen, Gandhi emphasized the growing economic disparity, social inequality, and the challenges faced by farmers and the youth. He highlighted these issues as reasons for including ‘nyay’ (justice) in the yatra’s title, signalling a call for justice against these injustices and the rising animosity within the nation.
Gandhi also brought attention to the demographics of social injustice, noting that backward communities constitute 50% of the country’s population, with Tribals at 8%, and Dalits at 15%, totalling 73%. He criticized the lack of representation of these groups in major corporations and questioned the government’s opposition to conducting a caste census to accurately assess the population and wealth distribution among these communities.
He further challenged the government’s denial of caste disparities, sarcastically questioning how Modi could claim there are no castes in India while identifying as OBC (Other Backward Class) himself. Gandhi accused Modi of fearing the empowerment of this 73% demographic with the truth about the nation’s social and economic landscape.