New Delhi: Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal struck out at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against the Indian economy, saying that India would never forgive him for the same.
Speaking at a session during the Business Today India@100 Summit, Goyal said that it seems Gandhi wants to remain in the Opposition throughout his political career. “I think he has made up his mind that all his life he is going to be leader of Opposition,” the minister said.
Gandhi had recently backed US president Donald Trump’s statement, calling India a ‘dead economy’.
According to him Goyal said the country’s economic progress cannot be weakened by repeating negative foreign statements. Goyal said India has a bright future and called it shameful that the LOP repeated a negative story.
“I think parroting a negative narrative by the leader of the opposition is a matter of shame. I condemn him for that and frankly the nation will never forgive Mr. Rahul Gandhi for this kind of very, very demeaning comments about the great story that Bharat is demonstrating to the world,” Goyal said.
“The whole world is looking up to India. The whole world recognises us as the fastest growing large economy. We are contributing 16% to global growth. Our inflation is amongst the lowest in the world compared to other emerging market economies,” he added.
The commerce minister claimed that India’s currency, foreign exchange reserves, stock markets and economic fundamentals are strong. He said that inflation in India is among the lowest compared to other emerging economies, adding that many countries want to work with India and its young population.
“The world wants to come and work in India. The world wants to work with these 1.4 billion young, dynamic, enterprising, aspirational Indians. They recognise the talent, the skill that young India has. So India has got a very bright future,” Goyal said.
Speaking on the current geopolitical trade situation, Goyal refused to call this a “de-globalisation” situation. Instead, he said that “I see countries restructuring their trade routes and partners.”
He also expressed confidence in the country and said, “I am quite confident that India will do more trade this year than last year.” When asked about trade barriers, he said India has already put measures in place to handle them.
