New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju invoked Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s recent remarks on India’s economic strength to counter criticism from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over the Union Budget 2026.
Speaking on X, Rijiju said, “I normally do not react to statements which are not made by Indians. I am quoting Elon Musk only to sensitise Rahul Gandhi… while criticising the government is a democratic right, do not disparage India. Never belittle India’s achievement.”
On Sunday, Musk shared data projecting that China and India together are expected to contribute 43.6 per cent of global GDP in 2026, with the US at 9.9 per cent. The post, referencing IMF figures, also highlighted that the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to account for more than half of global economic output by year-end. “The balance of power is changing,” Musk noted, pointing to the growing influence of Asian economies.
Musk has closely followed India’s trajectory and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice, lending weight to his observations. The IMF, in January 2026, raised India’s FY26 growth forecast to 7.3 per cent, calling the country a “key growth engine for the world.”
Rijiju’s remarks came in the wake of Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the 2026 budget, in which the Congress leader argued that it ignored urgent challenges such as unemployment, farmers’ distress, and declining household savings. Gandhi described the budget as “refusing course correction” and “blind to India’s real crises,” drawing parallels to former US President Donald Trump’s earlier remark that India’s economy was “dead.”
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded sharply to Gandhi, stating, “With due respects, I don’t know what course correction he is referring to. The economy and its fundamentals are strong.”
By citing international recognition alongside domestic economic performance, Rijiju reinforced the government’s message that India’s growth story remains robust despite political debate over policy choices.
