Congress cites World Bank report, hits back at Narendra Modi

The Congress Wednesday said World Bank data about India replacing Japan as the third largest economy was "a solid reply" to the BJP and its prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi's campaign of "misinformation".

Modi has been slamming the United Progressive Alliance government in his election speeches, saying there was "despair" due to its policies and India had become a country of under achievers.

But Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed hit back at Modi and told a press conference here that a World Bank report released Tuesday said India has emerged as the world's third largest economy replacing Japan.

According to the report released in Washington, the size of Indian economy in terms of purchasing power parity grew to $5.75 trillion in 2011 surpassing Japan which had $4.37 trillion economy.

"In the latest report, India has replaced Japan. There has been a campaign of misinformation by Narendra Modi. The report is a cracking answer to this," Ahmed said.

He said the India emerged as the world's third-largest economy in 2011 from being the 10th largest in 2005.