New Delhi, September 3: Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday mocked the Narendra Modi-led Central government over declining Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate to five percent, amid the economic slowdown in the country. The senior Congress leader took a swipe at Centre while stepping out of the Delhi court which is hearing the INX Media case. While stepping out, he just said "5 per cent…GDP is 5 percent” and showed his fist before walking with the CBI officials. GDP Growth Slips to 5% in April-June Quarter, Down From 5.8% in Q4 of Last Financial Year

Produced before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar on Tuesday, the 73-year-old leader's judicial custody was extended till September 5 in the case related to corruption charges in the INX Media case. The matter would be heard on Friday again. Chidambaram has been in CBI custody after he was dramatically arrested on August 22. After the hearing, while he was taken away for judicial custody, Chidambaram looked at the media and said, "5 percent…GDP is 5 percent". This was a reaction to his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation officials on August 22.

Here the tweet by one journalist:

Previously on Sunday, former Prime Minister and seasoned economist Manmohan Singh too hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government alleging that the government's "all-round mismanagement" is responsible for the "worrisome" state of the economy. Though, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tried to quash the comment, but was targeted by her own party's leader Dr Subramanaian Swamy. Subramanian Swamy Hits Out at Narendra Modi Govt as GDP Numbers Plunge, Says 'Get Ready to Say Good-Bye to $5-Trillion Economy'

Earlier on Sunday, the report arrived that sales in Maruti dropped by 33 percent, while Tata Motors's sales declined by 58 percent in August. Even Honda's sales too reduced by 51 percent. Among other losers in the automobile sector include -- Eicher-Volvo (41.7%), Toyota (21%), Mahindra & Mahindra (25%), Mahindra Tractors (17%) and Hyundai (9.54%) respectively.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 03, 2019 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).