Rahul questions PM on economy
JAIPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s understanding of economy and accused him of “destroying India’s image of brotherhood, love, harmony, and peace”.
He said people across the world would call Pakistan a violent country and India that of love and brotherhood. Gandhi added Pakistan was seen as a divided country and India where everyone is together. “This image has been destroyed by Modi...” he said at a rally here. “Today, India is known as the rape capital but Modi does not talk about this. When young people question the Prime Minister why the country’s reputation is destroyed, why there is unemployment and what have you done for us over the last five years, they are beaten and suppressed.”
Gandhi challenged Modi to let students ask him questions. “He will not be able to answer. He can only make false promises [like] two crore [20 million] jobs...”
Gandhi claimed India’s GDP growth rate is just 2.5% if measured as per the previous method. He added the growth rate was 9% during the previous Congressled United Progressive Alliance rule. “Today, it is 5% which is measured through a different method...”
He said Modi had not studied economics, could not understand Goods and Services Tax and took disastrous decisions like the recall of old and highvalue banknotes in 2016. Gandhi called young people India’s biggest asset and strength and added that they are capable of competing with China. “The entire world today is ready... all the countries of Europe, America, Canada, and Australia are ready to make India a manufacturing capital. Our youths have the potential to balance China and we can compete with China in manufacturing, service sector,” he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajasthan chief Satish Poonia hit back and said the people responsible for damaging the country with unemployment and inflation are now seeking replies. “I believe Congress is suffering from total bankruptcy. They are directionless, headless and with no agenda.”