‘Pehle tolo, phir bolo’: BJP’s Jaiveer Shergill attacks Rahul Gandhi for backing Trump’s ‘dead economy’ remark

Countering Gandhi, Shergill said that the Indian economy is "alive & kicking" and urged the Congress MP to be more fact-based in his statements

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for backing US President Donal Trump’s “India is a dead economy" remark.

Shergill said in a post on X that Gandhi may have confused the Indian economy with that of Pakistan.

This response comes after Gandhi's comments where he agreed with US President Donald Trump.

The controversy began on Thursday when Gandhi endorsed US President Donald Trump's criticism of the Indian economy. Gandhi stated that "everyone knows" the Indian economy is "dead" except for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

On July 31, Rahul Gandhi said that Trump is right about calling India a dead economy.

“Yes, he is right…Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact. The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani," Gandhi told ANI.

Rahul Gandhi says “India is a dead economy” Rahul Gandhi seems to be confusing Indian economy with Pakistan’s ! Economy is “Alive & Kicking”, Rahul Gandhi’s logic is “Dead”: India: > 4ᵗʰ Largest Economy > 2ⁿᵈ Largest Mobile Phone Manufacturer >3ʳᵈ Largest Automobile…

— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) August 1, 2025

Gandhi also alleged that India's main issue is that the government has destroyed "our economic, defence and foreign policy". "The main question is, Trump has claimed 30-32 times that he did a ceasefire. He also said that 5 Indian jets have fallen. Trump now says that he will impose 25% tariffs. Why is PM Modi not able to give an answer? What is the actual reason? Who has the control in his hands," he said.

Countering Gandhi, Shergill said that the Indian economy is "alive & kicking" and urged the Congress MP to be more fact-based in his statements. “Pehle Tolo, Phir Bolo", he wrote.

He highlighted several of India's economic achievements, including being the world's fourth-largest economy, the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, the third-largest automobile manufacturer, and having the fourth-strongest stock market.