Rahul Gandhi backs Trump's 'dead economy' jibe, Congress split

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday endorsed US President Donald Trump's remarks that the Indian economy is 'dead' and accused the Narendra Modi government of 'destroying' the economy, comments that did not go down well with a section of his own party. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha also asked why Prime Minister Modi was silent on Trump slapping 25% tariffs on India.

"Yes, he (Trump) 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... The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani," Gandhi told media persons outside Parliament.

His comments came at a time when the Congress paradoxically was seeking to mock the "Modi-Trump friendship".


Congress Working Committee member Rajiv Shukla, a Gandhi family loyalist, strongly rejected Trump's comments on the Indian economy, after Gandhi had endorsed the remarks.

"Trump saying that the economies of India and Russia are dead, is wrong. The Indian economy is not dead," he told media persons. "Economic reforms were made when PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms forward. Manmohan Singh strengthened it in the 10 years. The current government has also worked on it. Our economic condition is not at all weak.

Shukla further said, "If someone claims they can finish us economically, it's likely due to a misunderstanding. Trump is living in a delusion. Imposing tariffs is wrong. Every nation has the right to trade with the nation it wants. Restricting them, speaking against the BRICS, speaking against trade and import from Russia, this is not right."

Gandhi, on his part, targeted PM Modi for the tariffs on India announced by Trump a day earlier. "The main question is, Trump has claimed 30-32 times that he did a ceasefire. He also said that five Indian jets have fallen. Trump now says that he will impose 25% tariffs (along with an unspecified penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons). Why is PM Modi not able to give an answer? What is the actual reason? Who has the control in his hands?"

The leader of the opposition in the Lok Saba further said, "PM Modi works only for one person - Adani. This (India-US trade) deal will take place, and PM Modi will do exactly what Trump says... The main issue... is that the government has destroyed our economic, defence and foreign policy. They are running this country into the ground."