Congress takes a jibe at GDP figures, says people equate term with 'spiralling prices of gas, diesel and petrol'

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday sought to puncture the Narendra Modi government’s euphoria over rise in GDP growth rate, saying people of the country equate it with “spiralling prices of gas, diesel and petrol”. Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said that while the government was taking credit of GDP accelerating at the rate of 8.2 percent in the first quarter (April to June), the hidden reason is the base effect. The Q1 growth rate in 2017-18 is based on the lowest base of 5.6 percent in the last eight quarters, he said. “The real GDP which is increasing is Gas, Diesel and Petrol. From today onwards, prices of non subsidised LPG cylinder in Delhi have been increased by Rs 30.50, hitting the household budget of middle class people. For a non subsidised LPG cylinder, one has to now pay a whopping Rs 1401.5,” Vallabh said. [caption id=“attachment_5095571” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Congress’ Gourav Vallabh addressing a press conference. Image courtesy: Twitter/@AadeshRawal[/caption] According to government data released Friday, India’s economy grew at 8.2 percent in the April-June quarter of 2018-19 on strong performance of manufacturing and agriculture sectors, increasing its lead over China to remain the world’s fastest growing major economy. Mocking Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his social media posts, Vallabh said that the Modi government has created a new portfolio known as ‘Chief of Blog Writing’, and the senior BJP leader has “quickly pounced” on this responsibility. “Instead of looking after the workings of the finance ministry, he is busy writing lengthy, meaningless blogs. As the chief media manager of the Modi government, Jaitley is an expert in putting a blanket of fog to blur the vision of the people. But facts always cut through the fog,” he said. Vallabh was referring to the comments made by Jaitley on Friday on demonetisation. A day earlier, Jaitley had also written a post defending the government over the Rafale fighter jet deal. “No matter how many goalposts the Modi government changes, that reality shall not change. Finance minister Arun Jaitley has now invented a unique argument about demonetisation increasing the direct tax base. However, that argument also falls flat on its knees…Demonetisation has not had any effect on black money, corruption, terrorism and Naxalism,” he said. Vallabh said that the finance minister has claimed the last two years has seen the growth of around 16-17 per cent in direct tax collected in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and reached net value of around Rs 9 lakh crore. However, during the tenure of the UPA II, growth rates of direct taxes collected for FY 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 were 17.97 per cent, 10.76 per cent, 13.16 per cent, and 14.24 percent respectively, he claimed. In 2006-07, during the tenure of UPA-I, the highest growth rate in the last two decades of 39.92 percent in collection of direct taxes was recorded, Vallabh claimed.