'5%, do you know what is 5%?' Chidambaram ridicules Modi govt over GDP growth rate slump

Former finance minister P Chidambaram Tuesday mocked the Modi government over economic slowdown. The former finance minister made a jibe at the Centre over the recent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate slipping to a 6-year low of 5 per cent in the April-June quarter.

As he stepped out of a special CBI courthouse, a reporter asked him to say something about his custody to which Chidamabaram replied while raising his hands to show his five fingers, "Five per cent. Do you know what is five per cent?"

Also Watch: How P Chidambaram reacted when asked about GDP figures

The Congress party even tweeted a video of Chidambaram's verbal exchange with the reporter with the caption, "A quick reminder by P Chidambaram on why he's feared by the BJP government."

A quick reminder by @PChidambaram_IN on why he's feared by the BJP govt. #ModiMadeEconomicCrisis pic.twitter.com/9XOdVf6saT

- Congress (@INCIndia) 3 September 2019

The former finance minister's CBI custody was extended by two more days in the INX Media case. Chidambaram's five per cent jeer was targeted at the recent abysmal GDP numbers as Indian economic growth slumped for the fifth straight quarter amid muted consumer demand and private investment.

The less-than-anticipated GDP growth rate puts further pressure on the Modi government to announce meaningful reforms that can bring back the economy on the growth trajectory. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a press conference on Friday, to address the economic slowdown in which she announced multiple mergers of public sector banks.

Also Watch: Why Chidambaram thinks the GDP growth number is fake

Also Read: What is INX Media case; a look at the genesis of P Chidambaram and son Karti's misfortunes