Rijiju takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his remark on Trump

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju Friday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for attacking the government over US President Donald Trump’s “dead economy” remarks, saying, “Rahul Gandhi ji, you are not a child. You should understand the gravity of the situation and act accordingly.”

Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Rijiju emphasized that Trump’s remarks were an “observation” and not meant to be taken out of context. The government has maintained that they were not meant to undermine India’s economic achievements.

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Rijiju’s comments reflect the government’s stance on the issue, emphasizing the need for responsible political discourse.

The US president sparked a controversy by calling India’s economy “dead” while announcing a 25% tariff on Indian goods. His remark drew sharp reactions from Indian politicians.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi endorsed Trump’s comment, stating, “Yes, 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.”

Gandhi also alleged that the BJP has destroyed India’s economic, defense, and foreign policies.

However, not everyone in the Congress agreed with Gandhi’s assessment. Rajiv Shukla, a Congress MP, dismissed Trump’s comment, saying, “Trump saying that the economies of India and Russia are dead is wrong. The Indian economy is not dead.”

Other leaders like Shashi Tharoor also differed, focusing on negotiating hard with the US on trade.

“Rahul Gandhi is constantly threatening constitutional institutions. This is a conspiracy to weaken democracy,” Rijiju further alleged.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi had attributed the economy’s downfall to several factors, including Adani-Modi Partnership, Demonetization and flawed GST, failed “Assemble in India” initiative, MSMEs wiped out, and farmers “crushed.”

He had alleged that the close relationship between the government and billionaire Gautam Adani has led to the destruction of India’s economy, benefiting only a select few. He also criticized the government’s decision to demonetize high-denomination currency notes and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), saying these policies have had a devastating impact on the economy.