New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS): The Congress on Friday hit out at the Narendra Modi-led government after it released India's GDP numbers fore the first quarter of the current fiscal, saying it was pre-occupied in "shoddy headline" management and "cover up job", instead of addressing the structural issues ailing the economy.

Severe slowdown in manufacturing activity pulled India's GDP growth rate down to 5 per cent in the first quarter ended June, the lowest in six years. From 8 per cent in Q1 of 2018-19 to 5 per cent in this quarter, the GDP has fallen by 3 per cent in barely a year.

In a series of tweets, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Financial mismanagement and a spate of economic emergency prevails and prevades the entire economy. The dismal and disappointing GDP data only reflects it."

He said the malady was much bigger than what it appeared to be.

"There is complete economic downturn, virtual shutting down of manufacturing, lagging exports and surging imports, besides loss of millions of jobs in all sectors," he said.

Slamming the BJP government at the centre, Surjewaqla said, "The myopic BJP government is pre-occupied in shoddy headline management and cover up job, instead of addressing the structural issues ailing the economy. This is a classic case of quacks turning into surgeons!"