Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over 'Employment Linked Incentive' Scheme, Calls It "Just Another Jumla"

Questions Delay in Implementation, Seeks Answers on Returned ₹10,000 Crore Allocation​

New Delhi, April 11 — Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, accusing the government of failing to deliver on its promise of employment through the much-publicised 'Employment Linked Incentive' (ELI) scheme.


Gandhi criticised the scheme as an empty promise, questioning the government’s seriousness about tackling India’s growing unemployment crisis. He alleged that despite the grand announcement of the ELI scheme following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, no concrete progress has been made in the past year.

“It’s been nearly a year since announcing the scheme, the government hasn’t even defined it, and has returned the ₹10,000 crores allotted to it,” Gandhi said, suggesting the scheme lacked intent from the outset.

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There has been no official response from the government so far on Gandhi’s claims.

"New Slogans Every Day, But No Real Jobs"​

In a strongly worded statement, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Modi of focusing on slogans rather than solutions.

“While you create new slogans every day, our youth are still waiting for real opportunities. What is your concrete plan to generate the crores of jobs India desperately needs—or is this just another jumla?” he asked.

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He further challenged the PM to answer for the fate of the ₹10,000 crore that was initially earmarked for the scheme, pressing him to clarify whether the government had effectively abandoned India’s unemployed youth.

"Support MSMEs, Not Just Billionaires"​

Gandhi argued that meaningful job creation cannot be achieved by relying solely on large corporations or prioritising a few industrialists over broader economic inclusion. He called for:

• Massive investments in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
• Fair competition across markets
• Support for local production networks
• Skill development tailored to India’s youth

“Jobs can’t be created by focusing only on large corporates, promoting cronies, and ignoring India’s indigenous skills,” he said.

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Concluding his remarks, Gandhi questioned when PM Modi would pivot from “enriching Adani and his billionaire friends” to ensuring inclusive employment opportunities for youth from marginalised communities.


The remarks set the stage for renewed political debate as India continues to grapple with unemployment amid slowing job growth in key sectors.