Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a strong critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative, asserting that it has largely failed to deliver on its promises and has instead become a vehicle for "slogans, not solutions." Gandhi's criticism centers on the argument that the program has not significantly boosted domestic manufacturing, reduced unemployment, or decreased reliance on imports, particularly from China.

Gandhi's main point is that "Make in India" has not resulted in a substantial increase in domestic manufacturing. He pointed to data indicating that manufacturing has fallen to a record low of 14% of the economy since 2014. He highlighted the difference between "Made in India" and "Assembled in India", stating that merely assembling imported components does not create jobs or build a robust manufacturing base. He also claims that imports from China have more than doubled since the launch of the initiative, suggesting that India is increasingly reliant on foreign-made goods rather than developing its own production capabilities.

The Congress leader also attacked the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Gandhi alleges that the PLI scheme, which was designed to incentivize domestic production, is now being quietly rolled back, indicating a lack of confidence in its effectiveness. He argues that the government should instead focus on empowering local producers through honest reforms and financial support.

To bolster his argument, Gandhi shared a video of his visit to Nehru Place, Delhi's largest electronics market, where he interacted with mobile repair technicians. During this visit, he observed that most electronic components are imported and simply assembled in India, rather than being manufactured domestically. He stressed that India needs to genuinely get into manufacturing to generate employment.

Gandhi claims that the "Make in India" initiative has not only failed to boost manufacturing but has also led to record-high youth unemployment. He said that the government needs to create an environment that supports domestic producers and encourages them to create jobs.

In his criticism, Gandhi emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in India's economic strategy. He said that the country must stop being a market for others and start building its own products. He stressed the importance of empowering local producers through reforms and financial support, enabling them to compete with foreign manufacturers. He also cautioned that time is running out and that India needs to take decisive action to strengthen its manufacturing sector.