Economic data is manipulated, claims former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha

Guwahati: Former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha claimed all the economical data, including the growth figures, are being ‘manipulated’ by the BJP-led Central government to give a ‘false impression’ of development.

Delivering a lecture on ‘State of the Nation and the way forward’ here, Sinha, who had quit the BJP last year, referred to the recent resignation of two members of the National Statistical Commission and the issue of data’s authenticity.

Sinha said, “In 2017, I said that it was difficult to trust government data. I am telling you with all sense of responsibility that I can command, that this is the first government in India which is manipulating data. No government did this earlier. This government is doing it continuously.”

“All the current economical data are manipulated. The country is not growing at 7.5 per cent, it is not the fastest growing economy in the world. Own (NDA) data are revised upward and UPA’s data were revised downward,” he said.

During demonetisation period also, data were ‘fudged’ and the country’s growth data was revised at 8.2 per cent, Sinha claimed.

He mentioned about writing an article in September 2017 on the country’s economical aspects, after which the government tried to deviate the topic by presenting it as a personal conflict between him and his son, who is also a minister in the Narendra Modi-government.

The former Union Minister attacked the Prime Minister several times without taking his name for a single time and said that he (PM) ‘does not believe in democracy’.

Talking about RBI’s former Governor Urjit Patel’s resignation, Sinha said, “I don’t think the last word has been said about Patel’s resignation. One day when it will be opened, the truth will shock everyone. I know some information, but I don’t want to share it today with you because it may be termed an irresponsible statement.”