Global financial heavyweight IMF has delivered high praise for India’s economic resilience, a commendation that’s quickly become a political football. The BJP is leveraging it aggressively to dismantle what it calls Rahul Gandhi’s ‘fabricated economic narrative.’
Projecting 7% plus growth for 2024-25, the IMF cites India’s ability to navigate geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and monetary tightening. Key highlights include a thriving services sector, rising exports, and proactive monetary policy by the RBI.
In response, BJP’s media cell unleashed a barrage of social media campaigns tagging Gandhi directly. ‘IMF says India shining, Rahul says sinking. Whose word do you trust?’ read one viral post, garnering millions of views.
Senior BJP figure Amit Malviya elaborated in an interview, ‘Rahul Gandhi has built his entire campaign on economic despair. IMF’s report is the ultimate reality check, proving our reforms are delivering for 1.4 billion Indians.’
The political slugfest isn’t new, but IMF’s timing adds weight. With elections looming, economic credentials are under the microscope. BJP points to doubled highway networks, electrified railways, and startup booms as tangible proofs of progress.
Independent experts weigh in cautiously, praising macro stability while urging focus on inclusive growth. IMF itself recommends enhancing female labor participation and skilling programs to sustain momentum.
Nevertheless, the government’s cheer is palpable, with PM Modi reportedly sharing the report in cabinet meetings. This episode exemplifies how international validation can shift domestic debates, potentially marginalizing opposition critiques.
As numbers tell their story, India’s economic journey continues to inspire confidence worldwide, challenging naysayers to recalibrate their rhetoric.