The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra on Monday strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his appeal to citizens to reduce fuel consumption and foreign travel. The alliance accused the Modi government of policy failure and election-focused governance.
Opposition's Reaction
The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) stated that the BJP-led government is asking citizens to cut spending and consumption instead of taking responsibility for rising prices, fuel costs, and economic stress. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said in a post on X, "In today's war-like situation, this advice may be appropriate, but if the Central government itself, along with all BJP-ruled states, starts implementing it, that would be even more fitting. If a foreign policy is formulated with consensus by taking all parties into confidence so that the country doesn't get into trouble due to wrong foreign policy, then no one will criticize the government. Now that elections are over, the Prime Minister's appeal doesn't signal an impending hike in petrol-diesel prices, does it? That's the suspicion that arises."
State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal questioned, "Today, for his own rally, he (PM) is going around burning thousands of litres of fuel and squandering crores? What kind of 'sacrifice' is this?" Mumbai Congress chief and MP Varsha Gaikwad added, "Rather than advising the public to make sacrifices, the PM should start with himself first."
Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Priyanka Chaturvedi remarked, "Policy failure to handle the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, election-related decisions cannot now be dumped at the door of the citizens and asked to conserve oil and curtail travel/purchases. The citizens are anyway bearing the impact of this government's election-focused governance and award-collecting foreign relations."
Chief Minister's Defense
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking to the media in Delhi, urged citizens to support the PM's appeal given the global crisis. He noted that in neighbouring Pakistan, fuel prices had touched Rs 450. "The global crisis is putting pressure on economies across the world. PM Modi has ensured the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas but there cannot be indiscriminate consumption. Considering pressure on supply chains and the need to save foreign exchange wherever we can, we must rationalise... it is our appeal that everyone support it," Fadnavis said.
On Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the PM's appeal, Fadnavis said Gandhi cannot understand what the PM has said and one cannot blame him for his lack of understanding. "But people have understood and they will respond. Across the country, Rahul Gandhi in Indian politics is a rejected commodity, rejected by all... you (media) give him importance, we do not," he said.
Minister's Action
Minister Ashish Shelar on Monday announced that he would not be attending this year's Cannes Film Festival in France in response to the PM's appeal. Shelar, however, said government machinery would continue to work to ensure coordination and support for Marathi films participating in the festival. He would participate online wherever necessary to promote Marathi cinema, he added.
