India’s GDP of Q1 shrinks substantially by 23.9% – worst ever; Twiterrati trends #ResignNirmala
New Delhi: On Monday, India’s GDP data was out, with the economy contracting sharply during the April-June quarter (Q1) by a record 23.9%. India’s economy contracted at the quickest pace on record in the second quarter, as lockdowns that were imposed to help control the spread of coronavirus decimated consumer spending and investment.
This is the country’s worst performance since it began reporting quarterly data in 1996. And soon enough, #ResignNirmala started trending on Twitter, calling for the resignation of India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the data.
Several Twitter users took to twitter and backlashed FM Nirmala Sitharaman by calling it an “Act of God”.
Briefing reporters after the 41st meeting of the GST Council last week, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the economy has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is an ‘Act of God’, and it will see a contraction in the current fiscal.
I don't eat Onions , so I ate GDP ! #ResignNirmala pic.twitter.com/oRvS6Hko5w
— WB Youth Congress (@IYCWestBengal) August 31, 2020
Today India has recorded the world's lowest GDP growth. All credit goes to 'God'#ResignNirmala pic.twitter.com/YZdo3xIwMc
— Surbhi (@SurrbhiM) August 31, 2020
https://twitter.com/Anuragkukreti7/status/1300438796580737024
https://twitter.com/harisbutt142/status/1300428868667338752
A user took a dig at Modi’s follower and said ” Covid Negative is good but GDP negative is bad. Please don’t celebrate. ”
Dear bhakts,
Covid Negative is good but GDP negative is bad. Please don't celebrate. #ResignNirmala
— Spirit of Congress✋ (@SpiritOfCongres) August 31, 2020
Meanwhile, India has registered more than 3.7 million cases of coronavirus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and roughly 64,500 people have died from the disease. The numbers are rising quickly: It took almost six months for India to record 1 million cases, another three weeks to hit 2 million, and only 16 more days to hit 3 million.