RANCHI, Sept. 1 -- A war of words erupted as the Congress and the BJP traded blows over the health of the Indian economy, contrasting the distress of ordinary households against soaring macroeconomic indicators.

Launching an attack on the ruling Central government, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) spokesperson Akhtar Ali, labelled the touted 7.8% GDP growth figure as 'hollow statistical jugglery.'

Ali argued that behind the economic 'glitter' lied severe financial pain for ordinary families and small business owners. He raised critical alarms over household net financial savings plummeting to a 50-year low of roughly 5% of GDP, alongside a record personal debt burden forcing families to borrow just to survive.

Ali further po...