NEW DELHI: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan on Saturday countered US President Donald Trump’s description of India as a “lifeless financial system,” pronouncing the newest GDP figures confirmed that “India is an extended reside financial system” at the trail to changing into evolved and self-reliant. In line with govt information launched on Friday, the rustic’s financial system grew by way of 7.8 in keeping with cent in April–June, the very best in 5 quarters, sooner than the United States imposed price lists. The expansion within the first quarter of the present monetary yr used to be basically supported by way of the farm sector. Union agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan stated, “Those that name it a ‘lifeless financial system’ must now keep in mind that India is a ‘lengthy reside financial system’, which is at the trail to realising the dream of a evolved and entirely self-reliant India.” He added in a put up on X, “The sweat of the Indian farmers, the arduous paintings of our scientists, and the 140 crore Indians have demonstrated their features.” Chouhan additionally stated that underneath Top Minister Narendra Modi’s management, India is shifting forward to succeed in the objective of a evolved country.The BJP additionally hit out at Rahul Gandhi for backing Trump’s lifeless financial system observation, pronouncing that the newest figures appearing India’s financial system grew by way of 7.8 in keeping with cent in April–June had been the “toughest slap of truth” for Congress chief. BJP IT mobile head Amit Malviya stated, “For the acerbic, delusional, annoyed, and rejected Rahul Gandhi — the similar guy who declared India a ‘lifeless financial system’ — the newest GDP numbers are the toughest slap of truth.” He added, “India has simply clocked 7.8 in keeping with cent GDP expansion in Q1 of FY 2025-26, main the arena’s main economies.” He additionally stated, “The one factor ‘lifeless’ is Rahul Gandhi’s credibility.” In every other put up on X, Malviya stated that India isn’t just rising but in addition proving the “doomsayers flawed, quarter after quarter.” He added, “The similar purveyors of the ‘India is a lifeless financial system’ narrative are actually scrambling to cover their faces.” Rahul Gandhi, relating to US President Donald Trump’s grievance of the Indian economyhad not too long ago stated that everybody aside from Top Minister Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman knew that the rustic’s financial system used to be “lifeless.” As Chief of Opposition in Lok Sabha, he additionally stated that the BJP-led govt had destroyed India’s financial, defence, and international insurance policies, and had run the rustic “to the bottom.” His remarks got here after Trump remaining month known as India a “lifeless financial system,” and introduced 25 in keeping with cent price lists on imports from India, in conjunction with an unspecified “penalty” for the acquisition of Russian army apparatus and crude oil.