Congress party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that unemployment and inflation are the most critical concern for the country, yet the PM refuses to address these pressing concerns.

Priyanka said that while the PM often talks about women empowerment and the 33 per cent reservation for women, he rarely addresses the pressing issues of unemployment and inflation.

“Have you ever listened to PM Modi talk about this?” Gandhi told the crowd in Chandigarh. “He talks about women empowerment and says that he provided 33% reservation to women. But does he talk about inflation?”

She criticised the Modi government, stating that 70 crore youth in the country are without jobs, marking the highest unemployment rate in 45 years. She also pointed out that under Modi’s leadership, 30 lakh government job positions remained vacant.

Addressing the public, she questioned the PM’s claims of rapid economic growth, asking why this growth hasn’t translated into improved lives for the people. She highlighted concerns about rising inflation, closures of steel factories, and the impact of GST on weakening industries. She emphasised the lack of relief schemes for the middle class.

Earlier, addressing her first poll rally in Punjab in favour of party candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib seat Amar Singh, she also accused the PM of “speaking lies and making hollow promises with the public only to capture power”.

Attacking the Modi government, she said 70 crore youth are unemployed in the country and unemployment is the highest in 45 years.

“At stages, he (Modi) makes big claims that the economy is growing at a rapid pace. I want to ask if it is growing so fast and if there is progress in the country then why there is no progress in your (people) lives. Why did your children not get employment?” the Congress general secretary asked.

“And why inflation has gone up too much. If the country is progressing fast then why are steel factories here shutting down. Why the industry is being weakened by imposing GST? There is not even a single scheme for the middle class and for your relief. Progress is only being seen on TV, but no progress is taking place in your lives,” she told the gathering.

Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s remarks that he made in Bihar, she asked him to maintain the dignity of his post.

“What he said in Bihar yesterday, I cannot say this here. We are his rivals even then we respect the post. There is a dignity of the post,” she said.