Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has accused the Central government of using “statistical gymnastics” to mask fundamental weaknesses in India’s economy, as the party intensified its criticism of the latest GDP growth figures.
The opposition party’s charge comes amid ongoing debate over India’s economic performance and the reliability of official statistics. Ramesh, a senior Congress leader, alleged that the methodology used in calculating GDP growth concealed the underlying economic challenges facing the country.
The Congress has consistently flagged concerns about inflation and unemployment as key issues affecting ordinary citizens, arguing that official growth figures do not reflect ground-level economic conditions. The party’s critique joins a broader discussion among economists and analysts about how India’s economic data is compiled and interpreted.
Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge also weighed in, describing recent promotional exercises related to the Prime Minister’s GDP-related communications as unnecessary public relations efforts that failed to address core economic concerns.
The Centre has defended its economic management, pointing to headline growth numbers as evidence of robust performance. Government officials have maintained that structural reforms and policy initiatives have positioned the economy for sustained expansion.
The Congress’s latest attack reflects the party’s electoral strategy of focusing on economic anxieties among voters ahead of upcoming state elections and the 2029 general election. The party has sought to contrast its messaging on rural distress and joblessness against the government’s optimistic framing of economic indicators.
Economists have noted that debates over GDP methodology are not unique to India, with statistical approaches varying across countries and international institutions periodically revising growth calculations.
Sources
The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kharge-terms-modis-gdp-video-pr-exercise-congress-flags-inflation-unemployment/article71415891.ece
Source: The Hindu – National
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Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
