PM Modi Far Removed From Ground Realities: Congress Leader Salman Soz On GDP Numbers

New Delhi: Congress leader Salman Soz, addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the All India Congress Committee Headquarters (AICC HQ), said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is far removed from ground realities.

"On inflation, Retail Inflation is 3.9%, and Wholesale Inflation is around 10%, which the government is portraying as lower. It's been 10 years of 'Make in India', but the share of manufacturing in GDP is below 13%," Soz said.

PM Modi has called for Vocal for Local, but India’s trade deficit with China is USD 112 billion, he said.

"Narendra Modi talks about 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', but since 2018, there hasn't been a single drop in the capacity of strategic petroleum reserves in the country," he said.

"The Modi government is celebrating GDP figures, which means the country's economy is doing very well. The question then is: If the economy is doing well, why are families still having to borrow to spend? Why are rural wages barely above inflation over the last decade? Why is private investment stagnant? Why is net foreign direct investment into India, as a share of GDP, zero? Why is youth unemployment at 16%?" Soz said.

In 2026 so far, approximately Rs 250 lakh crore have been withdrawn from the Indian equity market, Soz pointed out.

"Mr Modi, if our country's economic growth is so good, then why are investors withdrawing their money from here? If the country's economy is so robust, then why is the economy's export share so low compared to before?" he said.

When the rupee was around 58 rupees against the dollar, Modi and the BJP people used to say that the rupee was on a ventilator, but today the rupee has reached around 95 rupees, he said.

Reacting to the GDP numbers, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he hailed the 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate, saying the story of the PM's "PR on economy" has been -- "lights, camera and inaction".

In a stinging attack on Modi after he posted a video praising the state of the Indian economy, Kharge said, "Nothing has changed except your ability to lie to the people!" "Lights. Camera and INACTION. This is the story of Modi ji's PR when it comes to the Economy," Kharge said on X.

"Narendra Modi ji, you are saying that the country is celebrating GDP Growth. You may have that luxury, but the Aam Aadmi does NOT! Our Common people are burdened by 3 'U's, and YOU are responsible for that! 3 'U's --> Unprecedented Unemployment, Unbearable Price Rise & Unbridled Inequality!" Kharge said.

The Congress chief said unemployment is at a 50-year high and 40 per cent of young graduates are jobless. One in six young Indians aged 15 to 29 was unemployed in July 2026, and the promise of two crore jobs every year lies shattered, he said.

He pointed out that retail inflation is at a 19-month high, with sugar, onion, tomato, dal, cooking oil, rice, milk and every kitchen staple on fire.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh termed the latest GDP numbers as "statistical gymnastics" and said the Make in India initiative has achieved very little, but the Modi government's signature "Fake in India" scheme continues unabated.

He claimed that if the Modi government gives out "honest numbers", the real growth number would be much lower.

"Yesterday’s GDP numbers are simply statistical gymnastics. By changing the methodology repeatedly, the Modi government is fixing GDP data while hiding India’s bleak economic reality," Ramesh said on X.

The gap between nominal and real GDP is supposed to represent inflation -- and according to the government, the difference is just 2.3%, he said.

"But this quarter has seen runaway Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Inflation of over 9%. This is an obvious discrepancy. This discrepancy has been manufactured by the Modi Government, which has changed the methodology for calculating the GDP twice this year. In June, just in time for this latest round of GDP estimates, it moved away from the WPI for its calculation," Ramesh said.

"If the Modi Government gave us honest numbers, the real growth number would be much lower. It’s a point that many, including the Modi Government’s own former Chief Economic Advisor, have made previously," the Congress general secretary said.

"Make in India has achieved very little, but the Modi Government’s signature 'Fake in India' scheme continues unabated," Ramesh said.

India's economy grew at 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter, showing resilience despite concerns that the war in Iran and resulting global uncertainty could weigh on domestic economic momentum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the GDP growth a "herculean feat".

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year slowed from a barnstorming 8.6 per cent in the previous quarter, but remained well above expectations when the conflict erupted and disrupted energy markets.

The Congress on Monday said the 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April-June quarter is "not an economic spring" and claimed it presents a "Greatly Distorted Picture" of the state of India's economy as it doesn't convey the "depressed" investment sentiment.

Hitting back at Modi, Ramesh had said this is a case of "premature celebration" by the prime minister, as consumer confidence is "sluggish", household saving rates have fallen, and debt has reached a "record high".

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