Bogus news meant to generate euphoria: Congress on claims of India’s GDP crossing USD 4 trillion

PTI, Nov 20, 2023, 5:24 PM IST

The Congress took a swipe at the ruling BJP on Monday for claiming that India’s GDP has crossed the USD 4-trillion mark and alleged that the ”bogus” news is only for generating euphoria and doing headline management.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said some Union ministers and the Maharashtra deputy chief minister have made a ”fake” claim.

”Between 2:45 pm and 6:45 pm yesterday, when the nation was glued to watching the cricket match, various drumbeaters of the Modi government, including senior Union ministers from Rajasthan and Telangana, the Deputy CM of Maharashtra, as well as the PM’s most favoured businessman, tweeted that yesterday itself India’s GDP had crossed the USD 4 trillion mark,” Ramesh said.

”This was totally fake and bogus news meant to generate more euphoria and a pathetic attempt at both sycophancy and headline management,” he alleged.

In a post on X, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday, ”This is what dynamic, visionary leadership looks like! That’s what our New India progressing beautifully looks like.” ”Congratulations to my fellow Indians as our nation crosses the $ 4 trillion GDP milestone! More power to you, more respect to you Hon PM Narendra Modi ji,” he said.

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared a graphic on X and said, ”India’s moment of global glory as our GDP crosses USD 4 trillion. The rise of New India under PM Narendra Modi ji’s leadership is truly unparalleled. #GDP.” Billionaire Gautam Adani was also among those who hailed India’s gross domestic product (GDP) crossing the USD 4-trillion mark, though there was no official confirmation if the country had indeed achieved the landmark.

The finance ministry and the National Statistical Office did not immediately comment on the viral social media posts on the country’s GDP crossing USD 4 trillion.

Highly-placed sources said the news is incorrect and India is still shy of the landmark.

An unverified screen grab from the live-tracking GDP feed for all countries, based on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) data, has been widely shared on social media by many, including senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

It is very difficult to have live tracking of the GDP figures of all countries as the numbers from various sectors of the economy are available with a lag.

”Congratulations, India. Another two years to go before India becomes the 3rd largest nation in terms of Global GDP by overtaking Japan at $4.4 trillion and Germany at $4.3 trillion. The Tricolour surge continues! Jai Hind,” Adani said on X.

Cabinet minister G Kishan Reddy, in a post on the microblogging website, said, ”Congratulations as the GDP touches $4 trillion for the first time and marches ahead. On the course towards $5 trillion economy — Modi ki Guarantee.” Reddy is the Union minister for culture, tourism and development of northeast region as well as the Telangana BJP president.

Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari said, ”Congratulations BHARAT on becoming a 4 trillion dollar economy! This phenomenal achievement has been made possible by the path breaking reforms introduced and implemented by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji government in the last 9.5 years.” India recorded a 7.8 per cent GDP growth during the April-June period of 2023-24, the highest in the last four quarters, on the back of double-digit expansion in the services sector, retaining its position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.