‘Economy Is Sprinting’: BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi ‘Dead Economy’ Remark After 8.2% Q2 Growth | Politics News

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla. (PTI)

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Friday hailed India’s economic performance after the country posted a real GDP growth of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of FY 2025–26 (July–September), saying the economy continues to defy global headwinds.

In a post on X, Poonawalla said the Q2 growth marked an acceleration from 7.8 per cent in the previous quarter and a significant jump from 5.6 per cent in the same period last year. Highlighting sector-wise performance, he said manufacturing grew by 9.1 per cent, private consumption rose 7.9 per cent, capital formation increased 7.3 per cent, and financial and real estate services expanded by 10.2 per cent. He added that growth in the first half of the fiscal (April–September) stood at 8.0 per cent.

Calling it a “solid, high-quality performance,” Poonawalla said the secondary sector grew at 8.1 per cent while the tertiary sector expanded by 9.2 per cent, indicating strong momentum across key segments of the economy.

He said the latest GDP numbers highlight India’s economic surge under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA government and claimed that high-frequency data confirms sustained momentum, with India outpacing all major economies.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Poonawalla said the “dead economy” narrative was contradicted by the data. “While India thrives and manufacturing booms, his outdated jibes crumble under the weight of hard facts. The economy is not just alive; it is sprinting,” he said, crediting Prime Minister Modi’s reforms for ensuring enduring prosperity for 1.4 billion Indians.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi welcomed India’s 8.2 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter of 2025–26, saying the country continues to remain the fastest-growing major economy in the world despite global challenges.

“India continues to be the fastest-growing economy among the world’s major economies. Even after the tariff impact and global adverse conditions, India has consistently maintained that position. This is a testament to the far-reaching and efficient economic policies under the Prime Minister’s leadership,” Trivedi said.

‘Disappointing’, Congress Raises Inflation Concerns

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raised questions over the GDP figures. “It is ironic that the quarterly GDP numbers have been released very soon after an IMF report gave the second-lowest grade of C to India’s national accounts statistics in its annual assessment of the Indian economy,” he said.

Ramesh said the numbers continue to be disappointing and claimed there has been no upswing in Gross Fixed Capital Formation. “High GDP growth rates are simply not sustainable in the absence of any renewed momentum in private investment. That is clearly not in evidence,” he said.

He also flagged concerns over the GDP deflator, saying, “The unrealistically low GDP deflator — which implies an inflation rate of only 0.5 per cent — is at complete variance with the experiences of crores of households burdened by crushing price rise in their items of daily consumption.”

Congress MP Tariq Anwar also termed the growth figures positive for the country and credited domestic industry for its performance. “It is a good thing if our GDP is growing, it’s good for the country. And it’s true that after the Trump tariffs, our manufacturers and our industry have put in a lot of effort, and credit goes to them,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)