New Delhi, May 16, 2023, Special Correspondent

New Delhi, May 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave away appointment letters to over 71,000 people at a 'Rozgar Mela' on Tuesday, asserting that changes brought by his government in the recruitment system have ended the possibility of corruption and nepotism.

Though Modi did not name anyone, his comments did not go down well with the Congress, which attacked the Prime Minister over the alleged lack of employment opportunities and accused him of "destroying" governance by "personalising" it and taking it to "new lows" through his "Rozgar Melas".

The Opposition party claimed that the job-seeking youth in this country know it is the prime minister who has "destroyed" lakhs and lakhs of jobs.

The PM, however, said that from applying for government jobs to the announcement of results, the entire process has been made online and elaborated on employment opportunities and infrastructure development ushered in by the BJP dispensation at the Centre in the last nine years.

The prime minister underscored the importance of today's date as nine years ago on this date -- May 16 -- Lok Sabha Elections results were announced. "The journey which started with the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is working for a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India)," he said.

He referred to his recent meetings with CEOs of leading global companies, including Walmart, Apple, Foxconn and Cisco, to assert that there is "unprecedented positivity" about industry and investment in the country.

The prime minister cited EPFO net payroll figures to say that over 4.5 crore people have got jobs since 2018-19 as formal employment has been growing. FDI and the country's record export have been creating employment opportunities in every corner of India, he said, noting that the nature of jobs has also been changing with his government constantly supporting the emerging sectors.

The country has seen a revolution in the start-up sector and their numbers have risen to nearly a lakh from a few hundred before 2014, the year the BJP came to power at the Centre, he said, adding that they are estimated to have provided a minimum 10 lakh jobs.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was in Chennai, appealed to those who received their appointment letters under the latest Rozgar Mela to spread the word on the scheme's benefits with the public.

She said the Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfillment of the Prime Minister's commitment to accord the highest priority to employment generation.

Meanwhile, in a tweet in Hindi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Modi ji who promised to provide 2 crore jobs annually, in 9 years, has shattered the dreams of 18 crore youth so far. 30 lakh posts are vacant in government departments, but today an event has been organised to distribute only 71,000 recruitment letters!"

The Congress party will give a befitting reply to the "betrayal" of the youth, he said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also slammed the PM over the 'Rozgar Melas', saying that by personalising governance like never before, he has "destroyed" governance.

"He has taken it to new lows through his Rozgar Melas as if he has personally created these jobs, as if he is personally paying those getting these jobs, and as if those getting these jobs should feel beholden to him and him alone," Ramesh said on Twitter.