Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the Union Transport Ministry of pushing thousands of small bus and truck fabrication workshops toward closure through its regulations. He claimed the Narendra Modi-led government was favouring large industrialists while burdening Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with excessive compliance costs.
Rahul Gandhi highlights plight of fabrication workshops
Sharing a video of his visit to a bus and truck fabrication workshop in Jaipur, Gandhi said the Centre's "Make in India" and "Vocal for Local" campaigns had failed to translate into real support for small manufacturers. He alleged that enterprises generating employment and sustaining skilled craftsmanship were being "deliberately strangled."
In the video, Gandhi interacts with artisans and workshop owners who said new rules had made it increasingly difficult to continue their businesses. He claimed transport regulations unfairly made manufacturers liable for bus fires arising from technical faults, placing an unreasonable burden on small workshops.
Backbone of local manufacturing under threat
Describing these workshops as the backbone of local manufacturing, Gandhi said artisans were creating jobs and contributing to the economy despite mounting challenges. He warned that closure of such units would lead to loss of traditional skills, widespread unemployment, and greater hardship for ordinary people amid rising inflation.
In a Facebook post, Gandhi said the quality of work produced by local artisans matched global standards, but instead of being encouraged, they were being forced to shut down due to excessive regulations. He assured the workshop owners that he would continue to pursue the matter with the Centre.
Previous meeting with Nitin Gadkari
The issue had earlier been raised by Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a meeting with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on March 18. They were joined by a delegation of bus and truck body builders from Rajasthan. The delegation argued that revised standards, expensive licensing requirements, and higher compliance costs could force many small manufacturers out of business, affecting millions of families.
Priyanka later stated that Gadkari had assured the delegation their concerns would be addressed expeditiously. However, in the video released Monday, several body builders claimed no relief had followed the meeting and alleged that the government's policies continued to benefit large companies at the expense of small manufacturers.
