Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Tuesday targeted the Opposition after India recorded a real GDP growth of 7.8% in the April–June quarter, asserting that the strong numbers had 'completely rewritten their entire script.' Chaudhary's remarks came on the same day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighed in, describing the figures as an exposure of what he called the 'Jhooth Ki Goonj' — the echo of lies — spread by those 'immersed in the depth of despair.'

What Chaudhary Said

In a video message posted on X, Chaudhary said: 'Opposition leaders set out every morning to mourn the state of India's economy from every platform, but the GDP figures have completely rewritten their entire script.' He credited the growth to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the stewardship of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Chaudhary also took a pointed jab at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, alluding to Gandhi's earlier characterisation of India as a 'dead economy.' 'Those who called India a dead economy must be very upset right now because they apparently have problems with the country's growth — their politics thrives on disappointment while the government works for development,' Chaudhary said.

PM Modi's Response to the GDP Data

Prime Minister Modi congratulated citizens in a message, crediting the 7.8% growth rate to the 'willpower and hard work' of the Indian people rather than policy alone. He noted that the figure was achieved against a backdrop of global instability — ongoing conflicts, disrupted supply chains, and economic uncertainty that has persisted since the Covid-19 period of 2020.

'Surrounded by global crises, supply chains are completely disturbed. Despite that, India is progressing at a fast pace,' Modi said. He had earlier shared a reel on Instagram with the caption: '7.8 per cent growth. Strong numbers. Even stronger confidence.'

The Opposition's Position

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has framed the Q1 GDP print as a rebuttal to sustained Opposition criticism of the economy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had previously described India's economy in stark terms, a characterisation the BJP has repeatedly used to put the Opposition on the defensive. Chaudhary claimed the Opposition 'might be annoyed with the statistics,' while asserting that ordinary citizens remain satisfied with the pace of growth.

Context and What It Means

A 7.8% real GDP growth rate in the first quarter of the financial year positions India as one of the fastest-growing major economies globally, outpacing China and several advanced economies in the same period. This comes amid a broader government push to sustain momentum after the post-pandemic rebound. Notably, the political messaging around the data point was swift, with both the Prime Minister and a senior finance ministry official responding within hours of the release.

How the Opposition responds to the Q1 data — and whether it contests the methodology or pivots to other economic concerns such as unemployment and inflation — will shape the next phase of the economic debate ahead of upcoming state elections.