Nirmala Sitharaman Slams Opposition Over GDP Criticism Says Don't Ignore India's Growth

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reacted strongly to the opposition's criticism of India's economic performance after the country recorded 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of FY 2026-27. Speaking at the G20 Finance Ministers' Summit in Asheville, North Carolina, Sitharaman said a strong opposition is important in a democracy but questioned the repeated negative portrayal of the Indian economy. She said calling the economy a "dead economy" undermines the hard work of millions of Indians who are driving growth. In a conversation with IANS on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers’ Summit at Asheville, United States, the Finance Minister highlighted that India's growth numbers, sectoral performance and economic reforms reflect the country's progress. She also said political criticism should not ignore facts and the contribution of citizens. Sitharaman urged the opposition to acknowledge India's economic achievements while focusing on areas that need improvement.