God Save India's Economy: Chidambaram After BJP's Nishikant Dubey Says 'GDP Has No Relevance'

BJP leader Nishikant Dubey said on Monday that the term GDP won't be useful in future.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram *File Photo*

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Updated: 03 Dec 2019 11:38 am

Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday took a dig at the BJP over its MP Nishikant Dubey's remarks that the GDP has no relevance, saying "God save India's economy".

Participating in a discussion in Lok Sabha on the Taxation Law Amendment Bill and a statutory resolution disapproving the ordinance on the same legislation, Dubey had said that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has no relevance and it should not be treated as 'Bible, Ramayan and Mahabharat'.

"GDP numbers are irrelevant, personal tax will be cut, import duties will be increased. These are BJP's ideas of reforms. God save India's economy," Chidambaram, who is in jail in connection with cases of corruption and money laundering, said in a tweet.

GDP numbers are irrelevant, personal tax will be cut, import duties will be increased.
These are BJP’s ideas of reforms.
God save India’s economy.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) December 3, 2019

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Monday had also taken a swipe at Dubey over his remarks, saying God save the people from "New India's novice economists".

Also Read: GDP Is No 'Bible, Ramayana Or Mahabharata' To Judge Economy: BJP MP

BJP MP Dubey on Monday said GDP growth shouldn't be considered the "Bible, Ramayana or the Mahabharata" to judge the economy.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Nishikant Dubey, the MP from Jharkhand's Godda, said: "The term GDP came only in 1934. There was no GDP before that... It won't be that useful in future, either."

"We should see if there is sustainable economic welfare available to a person. Sustainable economic development and happiness of a person are more important than GDP," Dubey said.

(PTI)