Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of abandoning the Rs 10,000 crore ‘Employment Linked Incentive’ (ELI) plan, which was introduced with much fanfare a year ago, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi three questions on Friday on the “grim” work situation in the nation.

Rahul accused the Centre of ignoring MSMEs, the main engine of the nation’s economy, in favour of concentrating on and advancing giant corporations.

But the Congress MP’s accusations about the ELI plan and the Modi government’s lack of commitment to solving the unemployment problem were swiftly rejected by the BJP.

Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s IT cell, went to X to give a comprehensive list of the Modi government’s plans to create jobs and improve the agriculture and service sectors.

He provided the Congress politician with a number of “hard facts” to refute the accusations and to “school” him on how the economy flourished during the BJP-led NDA and faltered under the UPA.

Malviya strongly objected to Rahul’s assertions that he had abandoned the ELI project, calling it a “calculated strategy to distort reality”.

“Either Rahul Gandhi’s staff hasn’t given him any information at all, or—far more likely—he’s using his infamous lack of knowledge as a weapon to deceive the young people of India. In a post on X, he said, “This isn’t a gaffe; it’s a deliberate strategy to distort reality, using his platform to spread misinformation under the guise of cluelessness.”

“It’s been almost a year since announcing the scheme, and the government hasn’t even defined it and has returned Rs 10,000 crore allotted to it,” Rahul said, pointing guns at the government. This demonstrates the PM’s seriousness about unemployment.

The PM Internship Scheme for FY 2024–2025 has already been launched, Malviya said. 3.9 lakh young applications have been received so far, 327 firms have offered internships to 1.18 lakh youth across all districts, and over 1.25 lakh candidates have been placed in internships.

“While the Modi government delivers on-ground programmes and measurable results, your legacy remains empty slogans and broken promises – the very ‘jumlas’ you accuse others of,” said Malviya.

In response to Rahul’s accusations that the NDA supports “crony capitalism,” Malviya attempted to expose the Congress leader by pointing out the UPA’s history of fraud, corruption, and policy stagnation.

“Youth in India are observing. They are aware of the difference between a dynasty that lies and a government that delivers,” he remarked.