IT IS NOT RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THE NATIONAL POLICIES WITHKOUT FACTS

IT IS NOT RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THE NATIONAL POLICIES WITHKOUT FACTS

2-AUG-ENG 11

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------After US President Donald Trump called India's economy a dead economy, there is a lot of turmoil in India's political and economic scenario. Trump put not only India but also Russia in the same category and said that both the countries are taking their ruined economies to the abyss, although Trump's comment came at a time when India has become the fifth largest economy in the world and its GDP growth rate is much above the global average.

Rahul Gandhi readily accepted this statement of Trump and attacked the Modi government sharply, but surprisingly, two senior Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Rajiv Shukla countered this statement and called India's economic condition strong. After this, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, on behalf of the Central Government, gave details of India's economic achievements in the Lok Sabha and completely rejected Trump's claim. The perspective of this statement of Donald Trump is clearly linked to America's domestic politics and global trade equations. After becoming the President again, Trump is continuously running an aggressive nationalist agenda, in which control over foreign trade and restoration of American supremacy is a major issue. This statement of Trump is in line with his America First approach, in which he often puts even the allied countries in the dock. If, there is a trade deficit or strategic disagreement.

The trade cooperation between India and Russia, especially in the oil and defense sectors, is troubling the US. After the Russia-Ukraine war, Western countries have imposed many sanctions on Russia, but India has increased oil imports from Russia. This has raised America's eyebrows, and possibly this statement of Trump is an expression of that displeasure. Presenting this statement as the failure of the government, Rahul Gandhi said that everyone except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister knows that India is a dead economy. He said that the BJP government has destroyed the economy and only capitalists like Adani have benefited from it. Rahul Gandhi described demonetization and GST as the two main reasons for India's economic ruin, although it seems factually incomplete and exaggerated. The Indian economy did suffer initial shocks after demonetisation and the implementation of GST, but economists are divided on the long-term effects of these policies. The MSME sector and unorganised workers were harmed by these decisions, but the same economy now seems to be on the path of revival.

In contrast to Rahul Gandhi's aggressive statement, two senior Congress leaders, Shashi Tharoor and Rajiv Shukla, appeared to take a much more balanced view. Shashi Tharoor said that India's strength is its huge domestic market and it is not a completely export-dependent economy like China. He called the US tariff policy challenging but expressed confidence in India's negotiating ability and diplomatic skills.

Rajiv Shukla flatly refuted Trump's statement and said that India is one of the top five economies of the world. He credited India's economic reform process to the Congress, NDA and the current government together. This view is not only pragmatic but also shows that the economy is not the property of any one party. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, while responding to Trump's statement in Parliament, said that India has now moved out of the list of 'Fragile Five' economies and has become the 'Fastest Growing Economy'. He also said that India is moving towards becoming the third largest economy in the coming few years.

The IMF report also confirms India's economic progress. According to the report, India's GDP growth rate is expected to be 6.4% in 2025-26, while for the US this rate is estimated to be 1.9% and 2% respectively. This difference makes it clear that India's economy is neither dead nor going into a trough like Trump, although it is also true that India still has to face many economic challenges. Unemployment, income inequality, rural crisis, and lack of investment in sectors like education and health are such issues which are a hindrance to India's social and economic strength. Schemes like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Assemble in India’ have had limited impact on the ground, especially when India’s role in the global supply chain has been relatively small. Additionally, the MSME sector is not getting cheap credit and easy policy support, due to which this sector is constantly under pressure. Nevertheless, the speed with which the economy has recovered after Covid shows that India’s economic fundamentals are not weak but resilient and capable of rebuilding.

Overall, Donald Trump’s ‘dead economy’ statement seems one-sided, excessive and politically motivated. India’s economy is not inactive, but it is definitely surrounded by challenges. In such a situation, political parties should introspect and work to strengthen the economy with a sense of shared responsibility. When leaders like Rahul Gandhi present critical statements of foreigners as self-truth, it becomes a matter of concern for the national interest. Political disagreement is necessary, but it should not cross such a limit that it harms India’s global image. At the same time, the government should also avoid complacency and keep the ground reality in mind. We have to accept this. The shine of GDP growth is incomplete without the strengthening of the MSME sector, increase in farmers' income, and employment generation. It is more important to make India's economic future solid and equitable than to prove Trump wrong on the basis of mere statistics. India is neither 'dead' nor a 'uncontested winner', it is a country full of possibilities, which is moving ahead on the strength of its self-struggle and self-reliance. In such a situation, responsible politics demands that national policies be criticized with facts and solutions, and not by blindly agreeing with the words of foreigners.