MEDIUM-TERM GROWTH TO SLOW TO 6.5% IN INDIA: FITCH
NEW DELHI: The Indian economy will suffer lasting damage from the coronavirus crisis, with growth slowing down after an initial strong rebound next fiscal, Fitch Ratings said on Thursday, forecasting the gross domestic product (GDP) at well below its pre-pandemic levels even after the crisis has passed.
In a report, Fitch said after an initial strong rebound in the fiscal year beginning April 2021, growth will slow to around 6.5% a year over FY23-FY26 (April 2022 to March 2026).
PATNA: The Makar Sankranti on January 14, which is marked every year by top leaders in Bihar hosting gala lunches of chura (puffed rice) and dahi (curd), remained a low-key affair this time, given Covid-19 restrictions and due to other factors.
The opposition RJD’s first family, like the last few years since the incarceration of party chief Lalu Prasad, did not host any lunch at former chief minister Rabri Devi’s residence, although Lalu’s elder son and Hasanpur MLA Tej Pratap Yadav did organise an event at his residence in Patna where workers and poor people were served the delicacies. “The RJD chief has asked all party MLAs to serve the poor on Makar Sankranti,” he said.
For the first time, ruling JD(U)’s former state president Basistha Narain Singh did not host any lunch. Singh, who resigned as state president a few days back, had earlier announced he would not host any lunch due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the ruling BJP, former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, now a Rajya Sabha member, would be hosting an event in the state capital at a later date, on January 18.. “Covid-related safety norms will be followed at the event,” said a close aide of Modi.
LJP too did not host any lunch, given the subdued mood following the demise of LJP patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan last year. In the Congress camp, there was no big event, except for a lunch organised by Rajya Sabha member Akhilesh Singh.
Meanwhile, the ruling NDA and RJD-led Grand Alliance traded barbs following a tweet by Hindustani Awami Morcha (Secular) chief and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in which he mocked the RJD for making a claim that 17 JD(U) MLAs would defect on Makar Sankranti.
“Today is January 14. The RJD leaders had claimed they would make government of GA by bringing on board 17 JD(U) leaders. Just find out those leaders
are still with the RJD or have left the party,” said Manjhi.
JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha too said there could be some defections from the RJD in coming days, citing by BJP’s Bihar-incharge Bhupendra Yadav remark recently that RJD would break. “Just wait for a few more days. There will be some fireworks,” Kushwaha said.
The RJD hit back. “Manjhi’s party is itself under threat as there are chances that four of his party MLAs might defect. The RJD never believes in defection. It is in the NDA, where the BJP is playing the game of defections as it happened in Arunachal Pradesh where six JD(U) MLAs joined the BJP,” party spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said.