BJP Hails 7.8% GDP Growth, Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Dead Economy’ Claim

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday celebrated India’s robust 7.8% GDP growth in the April-June quarter of FY 2025-26, calling it a “resounding rebuttal” to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent claim that India’s economy is “dead.” The growth, the highest in five quarters, was driven by a strong agricultural sector, alongside solid performances in manufacturing, construction, and services, according to data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Friday.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the economy’s vitality, stating, “Those who call it a ‘dead economy’ should see that India is a ‘long live economy,’ marching toward a developed and self-reliant nation.” He credited the efforts of farmers, scientists, and India’s 140 crore citizens, adding that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the country is advancing toward its goal of a *Viksit Bharat* by 2047. “This growth reflects the strength of our people and policies,” Chouhan posted on X.

BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya was more direct, describing the GDP figures as the “hardest slap of reality” for Rahul Gandhi, who, he claimed, had “declared India a dead economy.” Malviya highlighted that India’s 7.8% growth outpaces other major global economies, reinforcing its position as the world’s fastest-growing large economy. “The only thing dead is Rahul Gandhi’s credibility,” he remarked on X, accusing “doomsayers” of scrambling to retract their narrative.

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BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla echoed this sentiment, asserting that India’s economy is “rewriting global benchmarks.” He countered Gandhi’s remarks with, “Dead nahi, deadly hai,” emphasizing the economy’s resilience despite global challenges like the 50% U.S. tariffs imposed on Indian exports on August 27. The tariffs, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and military equipment, had sparked Gandhi’s criticism, where he accused the BJP-led government of ruining India’s economic, defense, and foreign policies.

The NSO data revealed that real GDP grew to ₹47.89 lakh crore in Q1 FY 2025-26 from ₹44.42 lakh crore in the same period last year, with agriculture expanding by 3.7% (up from 1.5%), manufacturing by 7.7%, construction by 7.6%, and services by a robust 9.3%. Nominal GDP rose by 8.8% to ₹86.05 trillion, though some economists noted a slowdown in nominal growth due to a low GDP deflator of 0.9%, the lowest since March 2019. Government spending surged by 9.7%, and private consumption grew by 7%, bolstered by rural demand and infrastructure investments.

Despite the strong figures, economists warn that U.S. tariffs could shave 0.6-0.8 percentage points off growth if prolonged, impacting labor-intensive sectors like textiles and jewelry. However, optimism persists, with the IMF projecting India as the fourth-largest economy by 2025, overtaking Japan, and the Reserve Bank of India maintaining a 6.5% growth forecast for FY 2025-26. “India’s economy is a beacon of resilience,” said Hemant Jain, President of PHDCCI, citing structural reforms and strong domestic demand.

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