GDP Growth Critics 'Only Jobless People Left': Goyal

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday responded sharply to questions about India's latest GDP growth data, asserting that government ministers do not manufacture economic statistics. His comments came as analysts and opposition figures scrutinised the 7.8 per cent growth figure released by official channels.

Goyal characterised critics of the GDP data as having little substantive basis for their concerns, suggesting they represented a small, disconnected segment. "They're the only jobless people left," he remarked, implying that those questioning the figures were out of touch with India's broader economic performance and employment trends.

The minister emphasised the importance of methodological consistency when evaluating growth statistics. He urged observers to "compare apples with apples," indicating that meaningful economic analysis requires applying uniform measurement standards across different time periods and datasets.

Goyal's defence underscores the government's confidence in the robustness of its statistical apparatus. The 7.8 per cent growth rate represents a significant acceleration from the previous quarter, positioning India among the world's fastest-growing major economies. The minister's comments reflect broader government messaging that India's economic fundamentals remain strong despite periodic questions about data collection and presentation methodologies.