The Modi government’s celebration of India’s 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate in the April-June quarter has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who accused the Centre of hyping “hollow data” rather than focusing on the economic pressures faced by ordinary Indians.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was particularly scathing in his assessment and dismissed Modi’s “PR on the economy” as a spectacle of “lights, camera and inaction”.

"Narendra Modi ji, you are saying that the country is celebrating GDP Growth. You may have that luxury, but the Aam Aadmi does NOT! Our Common people are burdened by 3 'U's and YOU are responsible for that! 3 'U's -->

Unprecedented Unemployment, Unbearable Price Rise & Unbridled Inequality," the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha wrote on X.

The Congress MP claimed that unemployment was at a 50-year high, with 40 per cent of young graduates jobless, and that one in six young Indians aged 15 to 29 remained unemployed in July 2026. “The promise of 2 crore jobs every year lies shattered.”

He also claimed that retail inflation had reached a 19-month high, with prices of sugar, onion, tomato, dal, cooking oil, rice, milk and every kitchen staple skyrocketing. At the same time, inequality has worsened compared with the period of British rule, he added.

"Petrol, Diesel, LPG and CNG are becoming unaffordable. Middle-class families are somehow battling to survive, and the poor have given up hope," Kharge said.

Turning to inequality, Kharge claimed that the top 1 per cent owned 40 per cent of India’s wealth while the bottom half accounted for just 15 per cent.

"The bottom 50% survives on a humiliating 15%. Your government has engineered the greatest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in independent India's history.”

Alleging that “rampant crony capitalism” was the Centre’s only economic policy, Kharge said, "Your government has written off over Rs 16 lakh crore of corporate loans since 2014.

And in the latest jaw-dropping example, creditors recovered just Rs 6.5 crore against admitted claims of Rs. 22,006 crore, giving a 99.97% haircut."

He also accused PM Modi of functioning as a "personal travel agent for a crony friend” and slammed his repeated requests to citizens to adopt austerity measures for the betterment of the Indian economy.

"Your repeated sermons of asking Indians not to buy gold and not to travel abroad show the ground reality. Fact remains: Nothing has changed except your ability to LIE to the people!" Kharge said.

Kharge’s remarks came after Modi hailed India’s 7.8 per cent real GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026-27 as a “herculean feat”, achieved against the backdrop of global turmoil, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain disruptions.

In a video posted on Instagram, the prime minister also attacked those spreading “jhooth ki goonj”, in an apparent play on Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron ki Goonj” campaign. He said the latest figures had cut through the pessimistic narrative surrounding the economy.

Source: telegraphindia