Politics is a serious business. But, every now and then, there is a scope for tongue and cheek remarks. A recent exchange between Union minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar and Imran Khan was one such moment.
Imran Khan’s bizarre remark about India
There is an archetypal truth; Clean your room before you set out to find faults in others. Pakistani Prime Minister does not seem to believe in that. He is lecturing India on economic stability when the inflation rate of Pakistan is one of the highest in its existence.
Khan was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the International Chambers Summit 2022. In his speech, he said, “Pakistan is still one of the cheapest countries…they (opposition) call us incompetent but the fact is that our government has saved the nation from all crises. Oil prices in Pakistan are cheaper than those in other countries,”
Rajeev Chandrashekhar’s rebuttal
Meanwhile, the absurd and statistically false claim did not go down well with anyone. Rajeev Chandrashekhar, India’s Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology was quick to give a rebuttal.
Referring to ‘one of the cheapest countries’ comment, Shri Chandrashekhar tweeted, “Yes bcoz aapke paas Sidhu hain, aur hamare paas sirf fastest growng economy, sabze jyaada unicorn aur FDI hai (Yes because you have Sidhu (Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu), but we have fastest-growing economy (India), most unicorn companies and highest Foreign Direct Investment.”
Yes bcoz aapke paas Sidhu hain, aur hamare paas sirf fastest growng economy, sabze jyaada unicorn aur FDI hai 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️ #ImranKaMathematics https://t.co/UBJBmMYyxj
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳(Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) January 12, 2022
Shri Chandrashekhar was referring to friendship between Navjot Singh Sidhu and Imran Khan. Both ex-cricketers have been best of friends. While inaugurating Kartarpur Corridor in 2019, Imran Khan was infamously looking for Navjot Singh Sidhu. Sidhu’s pro-Pakistan stance has led to Captain Amarinder Singh, his former colleague, terming him as anti-national.
Read more: Capt Amarinder meets Amit Shah and Ajit Doval to make sure that Pakistan’s man Sidhu faces the music
Pakistan’s Economy-Loans for repaying old loans
Imran Khan’s cheap economy comment could not be more antithetical to truth. Pakistan is witnessing its worst inflation in 70 years. Currently, the inflation stands at more than 9 per cent and has driven many into suicides. Ghee, sugar, petrol, poultry, electricity have all seen a rise of a minimum of 48 per cent to more than 100 per cent in various other segments.
Read more: Pakistan is headed towards historic poverty with historic inflation
Pakistan’s credibility in international market has been one of the lowest when it comes to repaying loans. Rarely will you find any international financing institution, which has not provided loans to the Islamic nation. In 2022, Pakistan is expecting a $1billion conditional loan from International monetary fund.
Read more: As Imran Khan gets caught in a $226 million scam, IMF may soon kick away Pakistan’s begging bowl
After Americans got tired of financing Pakistan, China has been a new avenue for Pakistan. However, Chinese money comes at greater costs. Loans are preferred way for China to colonise a nation through their debt-trap diplomacy. When you are mired with so much instability, one should refrain from calling themselves as ‘cheapest nation’.