A day before Budget Session begins, former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday lashed at Union government over “wild” claims of employment creation.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram questioned the “wild claims” by the central government and said that they were an “assault on our commonsense”.

1. Be prepared for an assault on our commonsense by wild claims of job creation by the government.

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— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

He was referring to a study by two scholars, Prof Pulak Ghosh and Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, which said that 70 lakh new ‘payroll’ jobs will be created in India in the organised sector in 2017-18.

Taking a jibe at PM Modi’s statement to a news channel, where he said, “If a man selling pakodas outside takes home Rs 200 at the end of the day, is that not employment?”, Chidambaram said that if selling pakodas is a ‘job’ said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job.

He further added that, let’s count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as ’employed’ people.

5. Even selling pakodas is a ‘job’ said PM. By that logic, even begging is a job. Let’s count poor or disabled persons who are forced to beg for a living as ’employed’ people.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

On Mudra loan scheme, Chidambaram said that it was claimed that a Mudra loan of Rs 43,000 (average loan size) created at least one new job. Show me one person who can ‘create’ a new job out of Rs 43,000 investment.

4. Earlier it was claimed that a Mudra loan of Rs 43,000 (average loan size) created at least one new job. Show me one person who can ‘create’ a new job out of Rs 43,000 investment.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

7. Real job creation will be reflected by robust increase in private investment, private consumption, exports and credit demand. Not happening yet.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

In an another tweet, Former Finance Minister said, “the truth is India is witnessing a three year spell of modest, but jobless, growth and the government is clueless about how to create jobs”.

8. The truth is India is witnessing a three year spell of modest, but jobless, growth and the government is clueless about how to create jobs.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018

Chidambaram called for a “distinction between ‘job’ and ‘self employment” and added that a ‘job’ is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created.

In the debate on jobs, it is important to keep the distinction between ‘job’ and ‘self employment’. A ‘job’ is certain, regular and reasonably secure. We want to know how many such jobs have been created.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 28, 2018