Congress Leader Critiques PM Modi's Economic Claims Ahead of G7 Summit
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims regarding India's economic status as the third-largest economy. Ahead of the G7 summit, Ramesh questioned whether Modi would inform Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about this assertion. Carney had previously stated that India is the fifth-largest economy, raising questions about the accuracy of Modi's claims. As India prepares for its participation in the G7 summit, Ramesh's remarks highlight the ongoing debate about the country's economic standing on the global stage.
| Jun 7, 2025, 17:40 IST
Congress Leader's Remarks on Modi's Economic Status
On Saturday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as a self-proclaimed global guru. He questioned whether Modi would inform his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, about India's status as the third-largest economy during their meetings at the G7 summit. Carney had justified India's invitation to the G7 summit, scheduled for later this year in Kananaskis, Alberta, by suggesting that certain countries should be included in the discussions.
Ramesh pointed out that during a media briefing following a NITI Aayog meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on May 24, 2025, the CEO of NITI Aayog dramatically announced that India had surpassed Japan to become the world's third-largest economy. In a post on X, Ramesh remarked, "Now, the Prime Minister of Canada—an esteemed professional economist who has served as the Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England—claims that India is the fifth-largest economy in the world."
He further suggested that perhaps India's first SUV—self-declared as a global guru—could provide updates to his Canadian counterpart during their upcoming meeting. After inviting Modi to the G7 summit, Carney stated that India is the fifth-largest economy and effectively the most populous country, serving as a hub for numerous supply chains, making its invitation to the summit logical. Modi received an invitation to the G7 summit on Friday and has agreed to participate, having attended the last five G7 meetings. India is not a member of the G7, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and France.