BJP on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the state of the Indian economy, saying the world renowned economist has been making tall claims about the growth rate despite the figure falling below 7%.
Describing Singh as one of the most brilliant economists which the country could have seen as a Prime Minister, BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy sought to know from him why GDP growth has come down to 6.9%.
"There are reports that GDP growth stands at 6.9% and this in itself is a disaster. It is below 7% though the Prime Minister has all these five years been saying it will be 9% in the 11th Plan period," Rudy said.
He maintained that sectors like manufacturing, mining and construction have come down.
"Industrial sector has come down from 20% of GDP while agriculture has come down to 2.5% from 7%. Can the Prime Minister explain why there is a complete fiasco on the economy front. Why is government caught in such a situation?" Rudy said.
Stating that Singh, who has studied at Oxford and Harvard universities, and served as RBI governor as well as former Finance Minister, Rudy wondered why the economy was still in such a shape despite such a person being the PM.
BJP insisted that despite such a scenario, the Prime Minister still maintains that GDP growth in the 12th Plan will be 9%. The party was referring to a statement made by Singh to the media that 9% growth rate is feasible in the 12th Plan if we take some "difficult decisions".
"BJP is shocked and amazed at this claim.... We will raise this question in Parliament in the forthcoming budget session and ask who is responsible," Rudy said.
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