Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed the Modi government, claiming that India has become a "dead economy" under its rule.
He said that everyone except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is aware of the economic crisis facing the country.
Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, Gandhi alleged that the BJP-led government has "destroyed" India’s economic, defence, and foreign policies.
His comments came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks describing India and Russia as "dead economies" while announcing new tariffs and penalties on Indian imports.
"He is right, everybody knows this except the prime minister and the finance minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact."
"It is a dead economy, are you people not aware of it," he asked reporters.
He also alleged that the BJP has destroyed the Indian economy to help billionaire Gautam Adani.
"The external affairs minister gives a speech that we have a genius foreign policy. On one hand, the US is abusing you and on the other hand China is after you. And thirdly, when you send delegations across the globe, no country condemns Pakistan. How are they running the country? They don't know how to run the country," Gandhi said, asserting that there is "total confusion" prevailing.
Reiterating that the BJP-led government has "destroyed" the country's economic, defence and foreign policies, Gandhi said, "They are running this country to the ground... The prime minister works only for one person -- Adani. All small businesses have been wiped out," he alleged.
Gandhi also claimed that any upcoming trade deal with the United States would be dictated by Washington.“Trump will define the deal, and Modi will simply follow orders,” he added.
Referring to Modi's speech in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Gandhi said the prime minister neither took Trump's name nor that of China.
"He (Modi) did not say that no country condemned Pakistan. Trump is having lunch with the Pakistan military chief who was behind the Pahalgam attack, and they are saying there has been a big success. What success is this," he asked.
"Trump has said 30 times that I got the ceasefire done (between India and Pakistan). Trump said five planes of India were downed, and he is now saying I will put a 25 per cent tariff (on India). Did you ask yourself why Modi is not able to answer, what is the reason? Who has the control," he asked.
Meanwhile, the BJP called Gandhi's statements a "shameful" insult to the aspirations, achievements, and well-being of the people of the country.
(With inputs from PTI)
