London/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has astonishingly differed from the prediction that her country, India, will become the number one economy in the world.

Mamata refused to agree to the prediction during a conversation at the Kellogg College, Oxford University on Thursday.

In the course of the conversation, the interviewer said, "India has already overtaken the UK. We (UK) are now the sixth largest economy, India is now the fifth largest economy. Soon, it will be the third largest economy in the world. By 2060, it is predicted it will be the number 1 economy in the world."

Mamata asked, "Who? Who?"

"India, as a country," the interviewer responded.

In reply, the Chief Minister said, "I will differ from that. There are so many things about which I should not speak here. Internal and external affair matters, I cannot disclose. I have some other opinions also.

"Because every country is facing trouble after COVID and the turmoil situation underway in the world... If an economic war-like situation is going on in the world, how do we expect that we will gain? Let us hope for the gain, we can only hope. It is our dream to see my country do best. But it depends."

Mamata's disagreement with the view that India will become the largest economy in the world has drawn sharp reactions from her arch-rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) back home in India.

Sharing the video clip on X, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote, "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has a problem with India becoming the world’s largest economy… This is truly shameful. She is a disgrace to the constitutional office she holds. Who behaves like this on foreign soil?"