Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticizes the Centre by saying that the "B in BJP's budget stands for betrayal."

New Delhi [India], August 1 Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday criticized the central government over the employment-linked incentive schemes presented in the Union Budget, asserting that the "B" in Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) budget stands for "Betrayal."

In a post on X, Kharge said, "A week into the 'Kursi Bachao Budget,' the academia and the industry awaits clarity from the Modi government on its Tokenism regarding the so-called 'employment-linked incentive' schemes."

Kharge highlighted that millions of youth are seeking a permanent solution to their job problems, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is not providing even a temporary fix. He posed two questions to the government regarding these "SHAM" schemes: "When will the Modi government provide details of the schemes? Neither the youth nor the industry, which is to be NUDGED, according to the FM, to provide Internships, First Time Jobs, or Training has any know-how about the contours of the 5 Employment-Link Incentive Schemes. A government, which could not create a conducive environment for Private Investment and took measures to plunge it, is now acting as if it will suddenly NUDGE 500 top companies, to hire 4000 interns per year! Was there any stakeholder consultation before imposing this half-copied idea from the Congress Manifesto?"

Kharge pointed out that while the Congress Manifesto included a Right to Apprenticeship—a structured system of training combining on-the-job experience with classroom instruction—the Modi government's budget only includes internships forced upon the industry, with no long-term solution.

He further alleged that the BJP government does not want to recruit SC, ST, OBC, and EWS youth in the public sector, asking, "Why are none of these Employment-Link Incentive Schemes missing the Public Sector component? Is it because the BJP wants NO recruitment of SC, ST, OBC, and EWS youth in the Public Sector—through reservation?"

Kharge questioned the government about the temporary nature of these schemes, stating, "Why are all these schemes providing 'temporary' employment/internships?"

He criticized the incentive scheme for first-time employees, which offers a Rs 15,000 subsidy in three installments. The second installment is contingent on the employee completing a compulsory online financial literacy course. Additionally, if the employee leaves within 12 months, the employer must refund the subsidy. Kharge asked, "Why should employees in every unrelated sector be expected to do this? More worrying is the clause stating that the subsidy is 'to be refunded by the employer if the employment to the first timer ends within 12 months of recruitment.' If the employee switches jobs in 10 months, he/she has already received the benefit of the scheme, but the employer is required to bear the costs. Would any small employer take this risk?"

Kharge demanded clarification from the Modi government on the Union Budget, stating, "The minimum wage (average) in India is about Rs 13,300. It looks as if no new intern/hire in these SHAM schemes is even getting that. Modi government should clarify this. The 'B' in BJP's Budget stands for 'Betrayal!'"

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented the Union Budget on July 23, announced an internship scheme aimed at providing opportunities to one crore youth in the top 500 companies over the next five years, with an internship allowance of Rs 5,000 per month to give interns exposure to real-life environments.