Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday that manufacturing in India is declining and the country needs to build strong, meaningful manufacturing ecosystems to drive growth and create jobs.Gandhi made the remarks in a social media post after visiting BMW Welt and the BMW automobile plant in Munich during an ongoing trip to Germany. He said manufacturing remains central to the success of strong economies and stressed the need for India to expand production capacity and generate high-quality employment at scale.
“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,” Gandhi said.
The leader of the opposition in India’s lower house of Parliament described his guided tour of BMW’s facilities as an opportunity to closely observe world-class manufacturing practices. “Had the chance to experience BMW's world in Munich, Germany with a guided tour of BMW Welt and the BMW Plant — an incredible look at world-class manufacturing up close,” he said in an Instagram post.Gandhi said one of the highlights of the visit was seeing TVS Motor Company’s 450cc motorcycle, which was developed in partnership with BMW. He called it a moment of pride to see Indian engineering featured at a global manufacturing hub. “A highlight was seeing TVS's 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW,” he said, adding that it showcased India’s technical capabilities.
Gandhi is visiting Germany at the invitation of the Progressive Alliance, a grouping of about 117 progressive political parties from around the world. During the trip, he is scheduled to engage with members of the Indian diaspora and hold meetings with German government ministers.Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on Wednesday refuted Gandhi's "manufacturing is declining" remark, calling it "fake news" against India's growth story.The BJP Spokesperson, in an X post, claimed 495 per cent growth in total electronics manufacturing in the last 10 years, with exports growing by 760 per cent, and a 14 times increase in the automobile manufacturing since 1991.Bhandari said, "Rahul Gandhi has once again lied about India's growth story. Rahul loves to hate India's growth story through his FAKE NEWS! Number speaks for themselves. Electronics Manufacturing (2014-15 vs 2024-25) Total electronics production 2014-15: Rs 1.9 lakh crore 2024-25: Rs 11.3 lakh crore +495per cent increase ([?]6x growth), Electronics exports 2014-15: Rs 38,000 crore 2024-25: Rs 3.27 lakh crore, +760 per cent increase ([?]8.6x growth). Mobile manufacturing units 2014-15: 2 units 2024-25: ~300 units +14,900 per cent increase. Mobile phone production value 2014-15: Rs 18,000 crore 2024-25: Rs 5.45 lakh crore +2,928 per cent increase ([?]30x growth). Mobile phone exports 2014-15: Rs 1,500 crore 2024-25: Rs 2 lakh crore +13,233 per cent increase ([?]133x growth).""Automobile Manufacturing (1991 vs 2024): Vehicle production 1991: 2 million units 2024: 28 million units +1,300 per cent increase (14x growth)," the X post added.Further, he added that India aims to produce 50 million vehicles by 2030 and to be among the top 2 auto manufacturers globally by 2047."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," the BJP leader wrote.
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