BENGALURU, JUNE 14: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of undermining India’s achievements and creating a negative perception about the country while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government.
Addressing BJP workers at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Samavesha in Bengaluru, Sitharaman said Rahul Gandhi repeatedly portrays India as being on the verge of a crisis despite the country’s strong economic performance and resilience amid global challenges.
She asserted that India continues to remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy, citing GDP growth figures and assessments by international institutions such as the IMF.
“Every time the Leader of the Opposition speaks, he attempts to decry India’s achievements and create the impression that the country is in trouble. The reality is that India continues to move forward despite global uncertainties,” she said.
Referring to ongoing tensions in West Asia and disruptions around key global trade routes, Sitharaman noted that India has successfully managed challenges related to fuel supplies, shipping costs and international trade without major disruptions.
She urged BJP workers to take the government’s development and welfare achievements to the people, describing the Viksit Bharat initiative as a national movement aimed at building a developed India by 2047.
Highlighting the Centre’s achievements over the past 12 years, Sitharaman pointed to reductions in multidimensional poverty, expansion of sanitation and drinking water coverage, financial inclusion through Jan Dhan accounts, and the success of India’s digital public infrastructure.
She also rejected allegations that Karnataka had been neglected by the Centre, stating that the state had received significantly higher tax devolution, grants and infrastructure support since 2014.
Calling for collective participation in nation-building, Sitharaman said achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047 would require contributions from citizens, innovators, industries and governments alike.
