Bengaluru, Apr 16 (KNN) The Make in India has not helped small industries, charged Krishna Byre Gowda, the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance candidate for Bengaluru North.

He met Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) industrialists here.

Speaking to them, Byre Gowda said that the Make in India programme favours top business tycoons whereas it has neglected the MSMEs. The state of MSMEs has not improved in the last five years.

He said, “The BJP-led Centre talks about Make in India. It is only on paper, as a mere slogan. There is no understanding on how it has favoured industrialists.”

“It is important to maintain the balance between the primary, the secondary and the tertiary sectors,” he added.

“The development must take place in all the sectors such as industrial, and agricultural. This will result in a strengthened economic system in the country,” he mentioned.

Criticizing the Centre, he said that it has failed to develop the garment industry, capable of creating employment opportunities on a large scale.

“As a result, the opportunity has been taken by Bangladesh. Our industrialists have invested in Bangladesh,” Gowda said.

Demonetization too has affected the sectors. More than 35 lakh people lost their job due to demonetization, he said.

The Congress is committed to encouraging MSMEs, he said. The party’s manifesto, too, dwells on the development of the MSME sector. (KNN/JM)