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Government rejects Sinha's critique of economy

By The Assam Tribune

New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS): The Centre today rejected senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha's critique on the state of economy, saying the world acknowledges that India is one of the fastest growing economies.

"The world acknowledges India is one of the fastest growing economies. No one should forget it. Our image at the international level is very strong," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

While briefing reporters about the Union Cabinet's decisions, Singh was asked about Sinha's newspaper article in which he said that the economy was on a downward spiral and poised for a hard landing.

Sinha had said in his article in The Indian Express that sector after sector of the economy was in distress and the November 8 demonetisation had proved to be an "unmitigated economic disaster".

Meanwhilw, Congress, led by party vice president Rahul Gandhi, launched a frontal attack on the Modi government over the state of the economy, after BJP leader Yashwant Sinha aired his views on the "mess", and warned people to brace for tougher times ahead.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your copilot and FM speaking. Please fasten your seat belts and take brace position. The wings have fallen off our plane," Gandhi tweeted while sharing the article Sinha wrote in The Indian Express, critical of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

In the hard-hitting remarks, Sinha, who was the Finance Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, lashed out at "superman" Jaitley for making a "mess" of the Indian economy which is headed for a "hard landing" as sector after sector is slipping into distress.

Sinha claimed that his views reflected the "sentiments of a large number of people in the BJP and elsewhere who are not speaking up out of fear".

Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said Sinha had spoken the truth and shown mirror to the government by noting that had it not changed the methodology for calculation of the GDP in 2015, the growth rate of 5.7 per cent would have actually been 3.7 per cent or less.

"Yashwant Sinha speaks 'Truth to Power'. Will Power now admit the Truth that economy is sinking?," Chidambaram tweeted.

Referring to Sinha's article in which he also wrote that when the BJP was in opposition, it was against the "raid raj" but now it seems to have become the order of the day, Chidambaram said: "Instilling fear in the minds of the people is the name of the new game, says Yashwant Sinha."

"Eternal truth: No matter what Power does, ultimately Truth will prevail," said Chidambaram.

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