New Delhi buzzed with political fireworks on Friday as BJP leader Shazia Ilmi unleashed a sharp rebuttal against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s latest X post. Accusing him of nothing more than sowing confusion, Ilmi dismantled Gandhi’s claims about the textile sector’s woes amid US tariff threats.
Gandhi had posted that 50 percent American tariffs and global uncertainty are crippling India’s textile exporters, leading to job losses, factory shutdowns, and dwindling orders. He branded this as proof of India’s ‘ailing economy.’
Speaking exclusively to IANS, Ilmi scoffed at Gandhi’s grasp of facts. ‘Rahul Gandhi neither reads nor understands. He probably hasn’t picked up a newspaper in ages. A simple iPad search would reveal the truth about India’s progress,’ she quipped.
Ilmi highlighted the transformative GST 2.0 reforms rolled out in September 2025, which streamlined duty structures for textiles, providing much-needed relief and boosting investments. ‘The sector was in shambles under Congress rule. Under our government, exports have skyrocketed. Yet Gandhi peddles lies, calling it a ‘dead economy’ to please his foreign masters,’ she charged.
She pointed to India’s robust GDP growth as irrefutable evidence against Gandhi’s narrative. The BJP leader didn’t stop there, linking Gandhi’s insecurities to his sidelining of senior Congress figures like Shashi Tharoor. ‘Gandhi’s paranoia is pushing out veterans and newcomers alike. Tharoor’s stance during Operation Sindoor irked him, exposing Congress’s leadership vacuum,’ Ilmi observed.
Turning to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s audacious comparison to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ilmi called it the height of shamelessness. ‘Netaji devoted his life to India’s freedom, inspiring patriotism. Mamata mocks the Constitution, dismisses central agencies, and flouts national dignity. It’s laughable and lamentable,’ she concluded, underscoring the contrasts in legacy and conduct.