Congress Questions PM’s Appeal Amid West Asia Crisis
Himachal Pradesh Congress President Vinay Kumar has expressed surprise and concern over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal urging people to avoid buying gold, vehicles and other non-essential items in view of the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s remarks, Vinay Kumar pointed out what he described as a clear contradiction in the Centre’s stand. He said that while the Union government has repeatedly claimed there is no shortage of gas, oil or petrol in the country, the Prime Minister’s call for reduced fuel consumption, limited travel abroad, lower use of edible oil and working from home suggests otherwise.
The Congress leader remarked that during the recent elections in five states, the Prime Minister projected the situation in the country as stable and under control. Now, soon after the elections, he alleged, the government is citing international conflict to create anxiety among the public. Vinay Kumar said this shift has unnecessarily added to people’s worries at a time when they are already grappling with economic pressures.
He further blamed the Modi government’s policies for the rising inflation and unemployment in the country, alleging that decisions taken under external pressure—particularly from the United States—have pushed India into an oil and gas crisis. He claimed that people are already facing difficulties due to shortages of cooking gas, and warned that if shortages of petrol, diesel or edible oils emerge, the responsibility would lie squarely with the central government.
Vinay Kumar demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologize to the nation for what he called policy failures and take concrete and effective steps to steer the country out of the current economic uncertainty.
