BJP fumes at Mamata Banerjee's 'disagreement' on India's economic growth: 'Disgrace to constitutional office'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is heard disagreeing to a forecast predicting that India would be the world's largest economy by 2060. (File: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party has taken strong objection to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee' remarks during her visit to the United Kingdom where she expressed her disagreement to a forecast predicting that India would become the world's largest economy by 2060.

In a video clip of a discussion shared by the BJP, Mamata can be heard saying that she disagrees with the projection, drawing barbs from BJP leaders back home. Mamata was in a conversation on 'Social Development - Girl, Child and Women Empowerment in West Bengal' at Kellogg College, University of Oxford in London.

Mamata differs with India's economic growth projections

"India has already overtaken the UK; we are now the 6th largest economy, and India is the fifth largest economy. Soon, it will be the third largest economy in the world. By 2060, it is predicted that it will be the first economy in the world," the moderator of the discussion is heard saying in the video clip shared by BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has a problem with India becoming the worlds largest economy This is truly shameful. She is a disgrace to the constitutional office she holds. Who behaves like this on foreign soil? pic.twitter.com/XupCVb4C2i
Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 27, 2025

"I will differ that," Mamata is heard saying in the video in response to the moderator's remark.

"There are so many things about which I should not speak here. Internal and external affair matters, I cannot disclose. I have some other opinion also. Because every country is facing challenge after COVID and also in the turmoil situation in the world. If an economic war-like situation is going on in the world, how do we expect that we will gain? Let us hope for the gain, we can only hope. It is our dream that our country should do best. But it depends (sic)," Mamata Banerjee is heard saying.

BJP targets Mamata Banerjee

The BJP took strong exception to Mamata's remarks in London and claimed that the Trinamool Congress chief had a problem with India becoming the world's largest economy.

""West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has a problem with India becoming the world's largest economy... This is truly shameful. She is a disgrace to the constitutional office she holds. Who behaves like this on foreign soil?" Malviya said in a post on X.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also criticized Mamata's remarks and drew parallels with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statements abroad.

"It is unbelievable that a chief minister of an Indian state, on foreign soil, objects to India, becoming the largest economy in the world and expresses dissatisfaction about it. This is nothing but Bharat Badnami brigade that likes to undermine India’s achievements on foreign soil, just like Rahul Gandhi. INDI alliance hates Bharat’s achievements," Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X.

West Bengal BJP Bengal chief Sukanta Majumdar also targeted Mamata, terming her remarks as "anti-India rhetoric" that amounted to an "insult" to the office she holds.

"Mamata Banerjee is tarnishing India’s reputation on foreign soil. Her anti-India rhetoric is not only shameful for every Bengali and Indian but also an insult to the constitutional office she holds. It is evident that you have failed as a Chief Minister, but do you even hesitate to call yourself an Indian? Are you truly an Indian?" he posted on X.