Priyanka Gandhi Flays Modi Govt Over GDP Decline, Unemployment; Says Economy Punctured

A day after the Finance Ministry held a press conference to reveal the GDP figures for April-June quarter of 2019-20 and discuss the economic situation of the country, Congress party trained guns at the Centre accusing that it deflated the economy.

Priyanka Gandhi said that the incumbent government has punctured the economy of the country. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: A day after the Finance Ministry held a press conference to reveal the gross domestic product (GDP) in April-June quarter of 2019-20 and discuss the economic situation of the country, Congress party trained guns at the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government accusing that it deflated the economy. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said that the incumbent government has punctured the economy of the country. "It is clear from the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate that the BJP government, which is blowing the trumpet of good days, has punctured the economy," she tweeted. Priyanka also  pointed out that "neither GDP growth nor rupee has strengthened. Employment is missing in the country. Now it is clear as to who wants to destroy the economy?" Sharp deceleration in manufacturing output and subdued farm sector activity pulled down India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth to over six-year low of 5 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2019-20, according to official data released on Friday. The gross value added (GVA) growth in the manufacturing sector tumbled to 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this fiscal from 12.1 per cent expansion a year ago. Similarly, farm sector GVA growth remained subdued at 2 per cent as compared to 5.1 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Construction sector GVA growth too slowed to 5.7 per cent from 9.6 per cent earlier. However, mining sector growth climbed to 2.7 per cent from 0.4 per cent a year ago. The previous low in GDP growth was recorded at 4.3 per cent in January-March quarter of 2012-13. India's economic growth stood at 8 per cent in the same quarter of 2018-19. "GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q1 of 2019-20 is estimated at Rs 35.85 lakh crore, as against Rs 34.14 lakh crore in Q1 of 2018-19, showing a growth rate of 5 percent," the National Statistical Office (NSO) said in a statement. In terms of GDP, GFCF at current and constant prices during the first quarter was estimated at 29.7 per cent and 32.5 per cent respectively, as against 30 per cent and 32.8 per cent a year ago. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also reiterated the words of the Congress General Secretary and shared a picture on social media in which the GDP graph can be seen dipping down. Along with the picture, he pointed out at "The 'State of Economy' in BJP rule!" and also questioned that "Is this the 'New India'? The 'plight of the economy' in the BJP government! Is this 'New India'?" The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had marginally lowered the GDP growth projection for 2019-20 to 6.9 per cent from 7 per cent projected earlier in the June policy, and underlined the need for addressing growth concerns by boosting aggregate demand. "Real GDP growth for 2019-20 is revised downwards from 7 per cent in the June policy to 6.9 per cent - in the range of 5.8-6.6 per cent for first half of 2019-20 and 7.3-7.5 per cent for the second half - with risks somewhat tilted to the downside," RBI had said in its monetary policy statement.