Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, June 5, criticized the government over the decline in two-wheeler and car sales, along with a slowdown in the mobile phone market, arguing that these trends reflect deeper economic distress. He said the country needs a politics rooted in the everyday struggles of citizens, not one focused on the spectacle of grand events.
Asserting his role as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi emphasised that India requires an economy that serves all its people – not just a handful of powerful capitalists.
“The statistics tell the truth. In the last year, two-wheeler sales have fallen by 17 per cent and car sales by 8.6 per cent. The mobile market has fallen by 7 per cent. On the other hand, both expenses and debt are constantly increasing: house rent, domestic inflation, education expenses, almost everything is becoming expensive,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi on X.
He added, “We need a politics that is not connected to the glamour of events but to the truth of ordinary life – one that asks the right questions, understands the situation, and responds responsibly. We need an economy that works for every Indian, not just for a handful of select capitalists.”
His remarks come at a time when debates over India’s economic direction and its effect on household budgets are intensifying, especially in the run-up to crucial state and national elections.
Meanwhile, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya hit back at Congress leader Gandhi, countering his criticism of the government’s economic performance with a string of key economic achievements and sharp rhetoric.
He noted that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April 2025 fell to 3.16%, the lowest in six years, while exports reached a historic high of $825 billion in FY25. “India continued to hold its place as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Defence exports rose sharply to Rs 23,000 crore – a 34-fold increase – and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) climbed to $81 billion, marking a 13.7% annual growth,” Malviya mentioned in his post.
He added, “India also topped HSBC’s Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), indicating strong industrial performance. In the auto sector, a record 43 lakh passenger vehicles were sold, and the stock market’s total capitalization crossed Rs 400 lakh crore, showcasing rising investor confidence.”
“Rahul ji, change your cassette of lies – the country isn’t stuck in 2024, it’s racing toward 2047,” Malviya said in a sharp jibe.
Malviya’s comments come amid renewed political sparring over the state of the Indian economy, with the BJP seeking to project strong macroeconomic fundamentals and forward-looking growth, in contrast to the Congress party’s claims of distress and inequality.
