Congress Alleges Modi Govt's Policies Have Deepened Employment Crisis

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi-led government of pushing India's job market into a "deep crisis" through what it described as flawed economic and employment policies, asserting that the country's youth need employment opportunities rather than social media content. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh cited a media report claiming that hiring by several leading Indian companies has slowed significantly, saying it reflected the worsening employment situation across the country. According to the report shared by Ramesh on social media platform X, recruitment by 11 major companies in the Sensex-30 index declined by 27 per cent during the 2025-26 financial year compared to 2023-24, indicating a slowdown in fresh hiring among large listed firms. Reacting to the report, Ramesh said the Congress had repeatedly warned that the government's economic policies were damaging the country's economy and that young people were bearing the brunt of the fallout. "What we have been saying repeatedly is proving to be true. The Modi government has inflicted deep damage on the country's economy, and its most severe impact has been on the youth," he said. The Congress leader argued that the reported decline in recruitment by some of India's largest companies pointed to a broader employment crisis. "A 27 per cent fall in new jobs across nine of the country's top 11 companies shows that India is facing a serious employment challenge," he said. Ramesh further alleged that the government was refusing to acknowledge the problem instead of working towards a solution. "This is only the tip of the iceberg. If large companies are reducing hiring, one can imagine the condition of the MSME sector, which has suffered due to the government's misguided 'hum do, humare do' policies," he said. He maintained that the government's economic and employment policies had severely affected job creation across sectors, pushing the country's labour market into a difficult phase. "The bitter truth is that the Modi government's flawed economic and employment policies have plunged the country's job market into a deep crisis," Ramesh said. The Congress leader also accused the government of focusing on publicity rather than addressing unemployment. "Instead of finding solutions to the employment crisis, the government continues to engage in headline management and the politics of distraction," he said. Taking an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent Instagram videos, Ramesh said the country's youth were looking for meaningful employment rather than online content. "The youth of this country are discerning. They cannot be satisfied with reels; they need jobs," he said. The BJP had not immediately responded to the Congress' allegations.