BJP and Congress Clash Over IMF Growth Forecast and Inflation Reality

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari framed the IMF’s positive growth forecast as a global endorsement of the current administration’s performance. Taking to social media, he credited the government with lifting over 200 million people out of poverty and labeled opposition leader Rahul Gandhi an "agent of chaos" for allegedly attempting to destabilize the nation’s democratic order. The IMF projects India to maintain a 7 percent growth trajectory through fiscal years 2027 and 2028, even as it warns that global economic resilience is weakening due to volatile energy and food markets.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh countered the narrative by shifting focus to the household impact of rising prices. Citing government data, Ramesh pointed to a 7.74 percent surge in food inflation, noting that staples such as onions, garlic, and ginger have seen price hikes ranging from 36 to 108 percent. He argued that the broader retail inflation rate, which reached 5.54 percent in September, represents a 23-month high. Ramesh contended that the financial strain extends beyond grocery bills to essential sectors like transportation, education, and clothing, accusing the Prime Minister of ignoring the eroding savings of the middle class and the growing debt burden of the poor.