GDP growth row: Dinakar accuses Opposition of misleading public on 7.8% figure

Lanka Dinakar, Chairman of the 20 Points Programme (Viksit Bharat – Swarna Andhra Pradesh), on Saturday rejected Opposition claims that India's GDP growth was actually 2.6% rather than the official 7.8%, describing the assertion as political propaganda.

Speaking to reporters, Dinakar said critics had combined figures from the old 2011-12 GDP series with the new 2022-23 series to arrive at the lower number. He argued that such a comparison was not scientifically valid, as growth must be calculated using a single base year, consistent methodology, and comparable prices.

"Taking the 2025-26 figures from the 2011-12 series and the 2026-27 figures from the 2022-23 series, and presenting the difference between them as actual GDP growth, is not scientifically valid," he said.

Dinakar targeted Congress leaders, their supporters, Left sympathisers, and others ideologically opposed to the Narendra Modi government, accusing them of creating confusion among the public in the name of statistics.

He defended the selection of 2022-23 as the new base year, noting it was not a political decision but a recommendation by the Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics. The committee, he said, considered factors such as the implementation of GST, the impact of COVID-19, and the post-pandemic recovery before treating that year as relatively normal.

Dinakar also highlighted structural changes in the Indian economy since 2011-12, pointing to progress in manufacturing, digital economy, e-commerce, financial services, infrastructure, technology, and business formalisation.

"Congress may criticise the policies of the Centre, which is its democratic right. However, changing statistical standards to suit political opposition is not acceptable," he maintained.

He challenged Congress and the Left to place the complete data, methodology, evidence, and calculations behind their 2.6% claim before the public.