New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) As India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, recording a 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter of FY27, BJP and NDA leaders on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their development-oriented policies. However, Opposition leaders dismissed the figures as being far removed from the ground reality, arguing that inflation, unemployment and rising prices continue to affect ordinary citizens.

This comes as India remains the world’s fastest growing major economy with a 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter of FY27, which places it ahead of every other large economy in the comparison.

Malaysia and Singapore grew 6.0 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively, Indonesia 5.29 per cent and China 4.3 per cent while the United States posted 2.1 per cent growth. In most large European economies, the growth rate was about 1 per cent or less.

Speaking to IANS, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Brijesh Pathak, said India’s economy was progressing continuously under the leadership and policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“India's economy is continuously progressing under the leadership and policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, we are the fourth-largest economy in the world. The GDP growth has shown that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will fulfil the vision of Viksit Bharat,” he said.

JD(U) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak attributed the growth to the government’s economic policies and long-term vision.

“This is India's economic policy. The determination and patience with which our Prime Minister and Finance Minister are working show that their dream is to make India a world leader by 2047,” Rajak said.

JD(U) Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said the growth figures demonstrated India’s ability to withstand global economic challenges.

“It is natural that at a time when the global economy is facing challenges, India's 7.8 per cent GDP growth not only shows that the country is overcoming these challenges, but also gives us hope that the country's development indicators will improve,” he said.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said the government had taken major and difficult decisions to strengthen the economy with a long-term vision.

“We have taken major and tough decisions to develop the Indian economy. These decisions were taken with a long-term vision. We have introduced policy reforms to make India self-reliant and a manufacturing hub,” he said.

Shekhawat added that global economies were facing pressure due to geopolitical instability, but India had continued to focus on manufacturing and exports.

“Today, the entire world is going through a difficult phase, with economies facing challenges and pressure. Geopolitical instability remains a concern for the world. But even in such difficult circumstances, the Prime Minister has worked to boost manufacturing and exports, making India an attractive destination for countries, businesses and investors,” he said.

Union Minister of State, Satish Chandra Dubey, also credited the government’s leadership for the economic performance.

“When India has a good leader who does good work, there will definitely be GDP growth. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is progressing well, so it is natural for GDP to grow,” he said.

Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav said he saluted Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Sitharaman for their development-oriented policies.

“I salute Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their development-oriented policies. Despite all the difficulties, India has achieved 7.8 per cent growth in the first quarter,” he said.

BJP leader T.R. Sriniwas also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of the government’s economic performance.

“Rahul Gandhi, you have seen the GDP figures that came out yesterday. The growth rate is 7.8 per cent, and Nirmala Sitharaman has clearly said that we are absolutely dismayed by the Leader of the Opposition's statement. Rahul Gandhi, please start taking economic classes, for God's sake, before you open your mouth, because the way our economy is growing and the way Western economies are growing, we are number one now,” he said.

However, Opposition leaders questioned whether the headline GDP figure had translated into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens.

CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Santhosh Kumar said economic statistics alone could not provide a complete picture of the country’s economic condition.

“These types of statistics are always available. The basic question is, how much is this beneficial to the common man? And to that question, the government is silent. Price rise is at its peak, unemployment, according to NITI Aayog, is also rising. Then in such a situation, what is the point in making these types of big claims?” he said.

Kumar added that economic growth should be reflected in people’s everyday lives. “These claims should reflect in the lives of a common man. So, that's not happening. These are just rhetoric. Maybe technically correct, but as far as the common man is concerned, it's nothing,” he said.

CPI leader Annie Raja also questioned the relevance of GDP growth to people’s daily lives.

“GDP growth has nothing to do with the real life of the people of this country. Eighty per cent, 90 per cent of people of this country may be poor, working people, middle class or upper middle class, but there is no reflection. They are all facing a lot of problems and difficulties,” she said.

CPI(M) Secretariat Member Ch Babu Rao stated that the government was presenting the 7.8 per cent GDP growth as a major achievement while ignoring economic difficulties faced by citizens.

“The government is presenting the 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate as a great achievement under Prime Minister Modi, but this is completely misleading. It exists only on paper. Inflation, rising prices, unemployment and the devaluation of the rupee show that the economy is in crisis,” he said.

Rao further claimed that the benefits of growth were largely reaching corporates while workers, farmers, the agricultural sector and industry were facing difficulties.

Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad said the growth figures were “very far removed from the ground reality”.

He claimed that India’s economy was in an unstable condition and alleged that the country’s foreign policy and economy had become dependent on the United States.

Punjab Congress SC Department in-charge Sudhir Chaudhary also questioned the government’s economic claims, citing inflation and rising prices of essential commodities.

“When this issue came up, you must have seen that inflation is rising. Onions and garlic are becoming expensive. She said, ‘I don't eat them, so what do I care?’ So what is she talking about today? What should practically be done?” he said.

Chaudhary further questioned the prices of petrol and diesel and essential commodities such as sugar, eggs, milk and onions, arguing that GDP growth must ultimately translate into relief for ordinary households.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar also reacted and said, "I feel that the Prime Minister holds a position where he should avoid making personal comments. This 7.8 figure definitely sounds very good optics-wise, but do you see it culminating on the ground?

"According to these figures, inflation in the country is low—do you see this reflected in the prices of onions, sugar, or petrol? Is this figure reaching the ground when unemployment is at its peak? When an RBI report states that household savings in our country are at their lowest in five decades, their own report reveals that to achieve this figure, it was shown that bank credit growth is at 18 per cent—meaning people are running their lives on loans. Does this reality reflect in these figures? Does it reflect that even today, 80 crore citizens of the country are dependent on government food grains?"

--IANS

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