Rahul Warns of Economic Crisis, BJP Hits Back

• Rahul Gandhi warns of a looming economic crisis and rising public anger
• Congress leader claims government may resort to measures similar to an Emergency
• BJP rejects the claims, citing strong economic indicators
• Amit Malviya says India has built robust economic safeguards over the past decade

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th June: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday warned of a possible economic crisis in the country and claimed that growing public anger could lead the government to adopt extraordinary measures to suppress dissent, drawing sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing a programme organised by the Congress’ Tribal wing at the party headquarters, Gandhi alleged that India was heading towards a major economic downturn.

“A massive economic tsunami is coming. Prices are rising and this is just the beginning. India will witness an economic crisis you have never seen before,” he said.

The Congress leader claimed that the country’s traditional economic “shock absorbers” had been weakened, making India more vulnerable to global economic disruptions.

Gandhi also suggested that the government could attempt to curb public pressure through measures similar to an Emergency.

“What may happen is that they may try to suppress public pressure and impose something like an Emergency. That is possible,” he said.

The remarks triggered an immediate response from the BJP, with party IT department head Amit Malviya accusing Gandhi of spreading fear and misinformation.

In a detailed post on social media platform X, Malviya said the Congress leader’s assessment of the economy was contrary to facts.

“The reality is exactly the opposite of what Rahul Gandhi has stated. India is facing external shocks, but it is not defenceless. The shock absorbers have not been removed; they have been built over the last decade,” Malviya said.

The BJP leader cited several economic indicators, including rising electricity consumption, increasing automobile sales, higher e-way bill generation, controlled inflation, strong foodgrain stocks and healthy foreign exchange reserves, as evidence of the economy’s resilience.

“These are not signs of an economy without shock absorbers. These are signs of resilience,” he said.

Malviya also highlighted government measures aimed at protecting businesses and consumers, including excise duty reductions on petrol and diesel, support to airlines amid rising fuel costs and assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“These are not the actions of a government dismantling shock absorbers. These are the actions of a government actively strengthening them,” he added.

Drawing comparisons with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era, Malviya pointed to the depreciation of the rupee and high inflation during the Congress-led government’s tenure.

He said the Modi government had strengthened the economy through multiple global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, supply-chain disruptions, crude oil price spikes and ongoing instability in West Asia.

Malviya urged Gandhi to “stop selling panic” and accused the Congress of ignoring improvements in economic fundamentals.

The Congress leader’s Emergency remark also drew criticism from BJP allies.

Union Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, reminded Gandhi that it was the Congress government that had imposed the Emergency in 1975.

“Emergency keeps replaying in his mind because it was his grandmother who imposed it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in democracy and the rule of the people,” Singh said.

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao also criticised Gandhi, alleging that the Congress, not the BJP, carried an “Emergency mindset”.