A political back-and-forth has emerged after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi flagged the rapid creation of 30,000 jobs at a manufacturing unit in Karnataka, calling it the fastest factory ramp-up seen in the country so far.
In a social media post, Gandhi said the unit became operational within eight to nine months and described the scale of employment generation as significant. He pointed out that nearly 80 per cent of the workforce consists of women, most of them between 19 and 24 years of age, and added that for many, it marks their first entry into the workforce.
According to Gandhi, the development reflects an ecosystem in Karnataka that allows manufacturing to grow quickly while offering what he termed dignified employment. He said this was the model of economic growth India should be working towards.
The remarks drew a response from Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who holds the portfolios of railways, information and broadcasting, and electronics and IT. Vaishnaw thanked Gandhi for what he said was an acknowledgement of the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The minister argued that the job creation was a result of national-level policies aimed at turning India into a manufacturing and production-driven economy, and credited the Modi government’s vision for such outcomes.
The exchange underlined the continuing political tussle over ownership of employment and industrial growth, with the Congress highlighting governance in Karnataka while the BJP-led Centre linked the progress to its broader manufacturing push.