Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again landed in controversy after commenting on India’s manufacturing sector during his visit to Germany. While touring a BMW automobile plant in Munich, Gandhi shared a video on social media in which he expressed concern over what he described as a decline in manufacturing in India.
In the video, Gandhi said manufacturing forms the backbone of strong economies but claimed that India has failed to strengthen the sector. He added that for faster growth, the country needs to build strong manufacturing ecosystems and create quality jobs on a large scale.
BJP Pushes Back Strongly
Gandhi’s remarks quickly drew sharp reactions from the BJP. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari dismissed the comments as “fake news” and said government data tells a very different story.
Bhandari pointed to major growth in electronics manufacturing over the past decade, claiming a nearly 500 per cent increase in production and over 700 per cent growth in exports. He also highlighted the automobile sector, noting that vehicle production has risen from about 2 million units in 1991 to nearly 28 million units in 2024.
According to the BJP, India is now targeting the production of 50 million vehicles by 2030 and aims to become one of the world’s top two automobile manufacturing hubs by 2047.
Praise for Indian Engineering
Despite his criticism, Gandhi also praised Indian engineering during the visit. He described the TVS-BMW 450cc motorcycle, developed through a partnership between the two companies, as a proud moment for Indian innovation.
Foreign Remarks Often Stir Debate
This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi’s comments made abroad have triggered political reactions back home. During earlier visits to the UK, he had spoken about what he described as growing pressure on democratic institutions in India, remarks that were strongly criticized by the ruling party.