'Crisis Came To Mind After Elections': Akhilesh Yadav Reacts To PM Modi's Appeal As W
'Crisis Came To Mind After Elections': Akhilesh Yadav Reacts To PM Modi's Appeal As West Asia Crisis Grows
M.U.H
11/05/202615
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for an austerity drive in view of the conflict in West Asia, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government, alleging that it had failed on both economic and foreign policy fronts and terming the appeal an “admission of failure".
In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the government had “suddenly remembered the crisis" only after elections were over. “As soon as elections are over, the government suddenly remembered the ‘crisis’. In reality, there is only one crisis for the country and its name is BJP," Yadav said.
Questioning the Centre’s target of making India a “five trillion dollar economy", Yadav asked how such a goal could be achieved when “so many restrictions" were being imposed on the public. “So many restrictions are being imposed, then how will the much-publicised ‘five trillion dollar economy’ become a reality? It appears the BJP government has completely lost control," he alleged.
Claiming that the rupee was weakening sharply against the US dollar, the SP chief said the government’s economic management had “collapsed". “The dollar is touching the sky while the Indian rupee is sinking deeper," he said.
Referring to the Centre’s appeal to avoid unnecessary purchases, including gold, Yadav said such advice should be directed at BJP leaders rather than ordinary citizens. “An appeal not to buy gold should be made to corrupt BJP leaders, not to the public, because ordinary people are anyway unable to buy even a small quantity of gold," he said.
“During the elections, BJP leaders took thousands of chartered flights. Were those planes flying on water? Were they not staying in hotels? Why did they not campaign entirely through video conferencing if savings were so important?" Yadav asked, arguing that the restrictions and appeals were meant only for common people while those in power continued to enjoy privileges.
Warning of wider fallout, Yadav said such statements from the government could trigger panic in markets and among the public. “This kind of appeal will spread fear, anxiety, restlessness and disappointment in trade, business and markets due to apprehensions of recession and inflation," he said. “The government’s job is to utilise its vast resources to help the country overcome emergency situations, not to create fear and chaos," he added.
PM Modi’s Appeal Amid West Asia Conflict
On Sunday, PM Modi appealed for judicious use of fuel, postponement of gold purchases and foreign travel, among other measures, to strengthen the economy.
Addressing a rally organised by the Telangana BJP, Modi urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, use metro rail services in cities, opt for carpooling, increase the use of electric vehicles, utilise railway services for parcel movement and adopt work-from-home options to conserve foreign exchange amid the crisis.
“We got into work-from-home, virtual meetings, video conferencing and many other methods during Covid-19. We got habituated to them. The need of the hour is to resume those methods," the Prime Minister said.
He also called for reducing the consumption of edible oil, lowering the use of chemical fertilisers and promoting natural farming and Swadeshi products to save foreign exchange and make the country more self-reliant.
