New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the opposition Congress on the issue of startups and its "propaganda" about unemployment in post-Covid times, saying it was "making fun" of these youth entrepreneurs and "creating an environment of false fear to demoralise them".
"Oppose us, but don't oppose the nation, our youths, their innovation. Stop making fun of them by giving statements like start-ups will not work. Don't discourage them. don't create a false narrative on the economic front by using your so-called intellectuals through various international forums and reports," he said in his response to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address.
"Our youth entrepreneurs are creating history through their innovative ideas, as they are getting the favourable ecosystem to launch their startups. Over the years, we have removed more than 25,000 unnecessary compliances which were creating hurdles on the way of our youths to innovate, to create something new. Our youths are now building unicorns, startups which are now valued in billions, just by their creativity, innovation and dedication. I am proud to inform this august house that India is third in the world in the list of unicorns," he said.
He accused the Congress of "miserably failing" to provide such an ecosystem for youths to create and innovate in its time in power.
"Let me remind my opposition friends that before 2014, there were only 500 start-ups in the country, and now we can proud of having 60,000 start-ups, among them many are getting bigger to become unicorns, and I assure that these unicorns will soon turned into the MNCs," he said.
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