Kharge accuses PM Modi of 'PR' over GDP growth as Congress chief lists unemployment, price rise, inequality

Congress chief attacks PM's GDP celebration

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his celebration of India's GDP growth, saying the government's claims do not reflect the realities faced by ordinary citizens.

In a post on X, Kharge said, "Lights. Camera and INACTION. This is the story of Modi ji's PR when it comes to the Economy." He added, "Narendra Modi ji, You are saying that the country is celebrating GDP Growth. You may have that luxury, but the Aam Aadmi does NOT! Our Common people are burdened by 3 'U's and YOU are responsible for that!"

Kharge listed the three "U"s as "Unprecedented Unemployment, Unbearable Price Rise & Unbridled Inequality" — a reference to what he called the main economic challenges facing the country.

Unemployment, inflation, and inequality

On unemployment, Kharge said it was at a 50-year high, with 40 per cent of young graduates jobless and one in six young Indians aged 15 to 29 unemployed in July 2026. He also said the promise of creating two crore jobs every year "lies shattered."

On price rise, Kharge claimed retail inflation had touched a 19-month high and that prices of sugar, onion, tomato, pulses, cooking oil, rice, and milk had increased significantly. "Petrol, Diesel, LPG and CNG is becoming unaffordable. Middle class families are somehow battling to survive and the poor has given up hope," he said.

Kharge also attacked the government over wealth inequality, saying, "Inequality worse than British rule. The top 1% owns 40% of India's total wealth. The bottom 50% survives on a humiliating 15%." He alleged that the government had "engineered the greatest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in independent India's history" and that "Rampant Crony Capitalism is your only Economic Policy."

Corporate loan write-offs and alleged crony capitalism

Kharge further alleged that the government had written off over Rs 16 lakh crore in corporate loans since 2014. He cited a recent example where creditors recovered just Rs 6.5 crore against admitted claims of Rs 22,006 crore, calling it a "99.97% haircut."

PM Modi's response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier posted a video praising the country's economic performance, saying "doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed yet again." Kharge's remarks came in response to that video.