In a scathing attack, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has targeted the Narendra Modi-led central government, alleging that 2.5 crore MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) have shut down under its reign. Kharge questions the economic impact, contrasting it with the Congress-UPA era that witnessed a growth of 1.3 crore MSMEs.
Kharge took to social media, asserting that for the BJP, MSME stands for “Minimum Support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,” challenging Prime Minister Modi’s claims. He further questioned whether economic assaults through demonetization, flawed GST implementation, and misguided lockdowns were responsible for the repeated blows to the economy during the last decade.
The Congress leader went on to level severe allegations, stating that the Modi government favors high-capital companies at the expense of MSMEs, jeopardizing the dreams and aspirations of millions working in the MSME sector. Additionally, Kharge highlighted the unfulfilled promise of a special economic package of ₹20 lakh crore for MSMEs announced by PM Modi on May 12, 2020, raising concerns about its implementation.
In a comparative analysis, Kharge pointed out that during the Congress-UPA period in 2013-14, 11.14 crore people found employment in MSMEs, contrasting it with the Modi government’s 11.1 crore employment figures in 2022-23.
The accusations by Mallikarjun Kharge signal growing political tension over economic policies, with serious questions being raised about the fate of MSMEs and the overall impact on employment under the Modi government.