New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) Dedicating India's 7.6 per cent growth in 2015-16 to the "stringent financial management and economic skills" of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the BJP on Wednesday termed the achievement as more significant in the shadow of poor monsoons in the two preceding years and downturn in world markets.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has led the country to become the fastest growing economy in the world. Under the stringent financial management and economic skills of Jaitley, India has reached the GDP of 7.6 per cent to become the fastest growing large economy in the world," Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav said here at a press conference.
"Our growth and success is even more significant because India has recently faced two consecutive drought years which affects agriculture negatively. Even then, the farm sector has grown positively. Farm sector contributes around 15 per cent to the GDP and almost 50 per cent of population is directly or indirectly engaged in it. This positive growth is more cheering," Yadav said.
"Farm sector, mining and manufacturing have contributed significantly to this growth of the economy," he added.
Yadav, a Rajya Sabha member, said the per capita income has grown by 6.2 per cent, which also reflects the increased consumption.
"More importantly, the fiscal deficit of the government has remained on expectations. It was expected to be 3.9 per cent in 2015-16, which has remained at 3.92 per cent," he said.
The BJP leader also took on the Congress and accused it of obstructing the government's development agenda.
"Our government is working for financial inclusion and economic development of the poor of our country, whereas the Congress is opposing the government and its works for mere political reasons. The GST bill is opposed only for petty political benefits," he said.