Raut questions Govt over inflation, unemployment

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday sought to know from the Central Government why inflation and unemployment were rising despite the country clocking a 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday applauded the country’s people for the 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate, calling the feat particularly impressive, coming against the backdrop of global turmoil, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain disruptions.

In a video message on Instagram, the PM also slammed those spreading “jhooth ki goonj” (an apparent riff on Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ campaign), saying the latest GDP growth rate tore through the narrative of “pessimism” about the Indian economy.

Raut said, “If GDP has grown, then why is inflation rising? Why is the rupee falling? Why is unemployment increasing? Why do 85 crore people have to survive on 10 kilograms of free ration?”

“That question should also be answered, shouldn’t it? GDP has grown, but we should be able to see what exactly has grown, shouldn’t we? People don’t have jobs, employment, clothes, and homes,” the Sena (UBT) MP said.

India’s economy grew at a faster-than-expected 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter.