PM Modi Hails India's Growth During Oman Visit After Rahul Gandhi Stirs Fresh Row In Germany

Last Updated:December 18, 2025, 14:36 IST

The remarks come amid a political row triggered by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Germany where he said manufacturing in India was “declining”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the renewable energy sector, saying the country’s development over the last decade has been both swift and wide-ranging.

“The speed and scale of India’s development are visible not only in education, but across other sectors as well. In the past 11 years, our installed solar energy capacity has increased thirty-fold, and solar module manufacturing has grown 10 times. India is now rapidly advancing toward green growth…" the prime minister, who is currently in Oman, said.

The remarks come amid a political row triggered by comments made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Germany. Speaking at a BMW manufacturing facility, Gandhi had said manufacturing in India was “declining" and argued that the country had failed to build strong manufacturing ecosystems comparable to those in advanced economies.

“Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more—build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems, and create high-quality jobs at scale," he can be heard saying in a viral video on Instagram.

Gandhi’s comments, made on foreign soil, quickly drew criticism back home.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected the Congress leader’s assertion, calling it factually incorrect and politically motivated. Party leaders pointed to data showing growth in multiple manufacturing segments, including electronics, automobiles and renewable energy equipment, as evidence that India’s industrial base is expanding rather than shrinking.

Calling Gandhi’s claims “fake news", BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed 495 per cent growth in total electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years and a 760 per cent growth in exports.

“What India is targeting next? 50 million vehicles by 2030, 200 million vehicles by 2047, and the Top-2 auto manufacturers globally. From import dependence to export dominance –this is manufacturing-led growth backed by data, not slogans. Rahul Gandhi may deny reality, but factories, exports, and numbers don’t lie. Under PM Modi, India’s growth story is real — and accelerating," he said.

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