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Rahul Gandhi praised Karnataka for Foxconn hiring 30,000 staff at Devanahalli. Ashwini Vaishnaw credited PM Narendra Modi’s Make in India for the rapid iPhone production growth.
Rahul Gandhi (L) hailed the Karnataka government for rapid job creation while Ashwini Vaishnaw credited PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. (Image: PTI/File)
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, earlier this week, lauded the Karnataka government for enabling what he described as the “fastest factory ramp-up seen in India so far,” in reference to iPhone manufacturer Foxconn’s recruitment of nearly 30,000 employees at its facility at Devanahalli near Bengaluru within nine months. Around 80 per cent of the workforce at the unit are women.
However, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw soon responded to his post with a cheeky remark, attributing the achievement to the Centre’s policies and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Sharing a screenshot of a news report on Facebook on Monday, Gandhi wrote, “30,000 staff hired in just eight–nine months – the fastest factory ramp-up seen in India so far…” He said the development went beyond numbers, adding, “This is not just a statistic. It is transformative job creation. What makes it even more powerful is the unit is largely women-led, with around 80 per cent women, most aged 19–24… for many, this is their first job. Karnataka is setting an example by creating an ecosystem where manufacturing can grow at this scale and speed.”
He concluded by outlining his broader vision, stating, “This is the India we must build: jobs with dignity, and opportunities for all.”
Vaishnaw responded on Wednesday, posting, “Thanks Rahul Gandhi, for acknowledging the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision,” while sharing Gandhi’s post and the accompanying news report.
Taiwan-based Foxconn, a major contract manufacturer for Apple devices, including the latest iPhone 17, is expected to play a key role in Apple’s gradual shift of production from China to India. Once fully operational, the Devanahalli facility is projected to manufacture up to 20 million iPhones annually.
Over the past year, iPhones worth $22 billion have been assembled in India, with the country now contributing nearly 20 per cent of Apple’s total global iPhone output.
December 25, 2025, 11:20 IST
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