Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for austerity measures amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the situation.
However, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray criticized the Prime Minister and asked, “Why should people bear the burden of the government’s mistakes?”
“When crude oil prices were $60-$65 per barrel, you were still selling us petrol and diesel at inflated prices,” Thackeray said.
Prime Minister Modi on Sunday called for a series of austerity measures, urging citizens to cut down on petrol and diesel consumption, adopt work-from-home options, postpone travel abroad and temporarily stop buying gold.
Pawar ONX said the Prime Minister should convene an all-party meeting. He said: “The sudden nature of these announcements has created an atmosphere of unease among ordinary citizens, the industry and business sector, as well as investors. This situation is certainly a cause for concern. It is likely to have far-reaching effects on the country’s economy.”
“Considering the seriousness of this issue, the Prime Minister should convene an all-party meeting under his chairmanship. Involving leaders of all parties in the decision-making process on matters of national interest is absolutely essential for the well-being of the country,” he said.
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“Given the current international situation, the central government should give priority to more sensitivity and wide-ranging consultations. Besides, the Prime Minister should immediately call a meeting with the country’s renowned economic experts, industry representatives, and relevant specialists to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation. A comprehensive discussion on future policies should be held,” Pawar said.
Thackeray on
“Right now, the price of crude oil in the international market is around $90-$100 per barrel. It’s not as if the world hasn’t seen prices like this before. From 2008 onwards, during the Arab Spring in 2011-12, in 2013-14 (when BJP members were complaining loudly about crude oil prices and the embarrassment the country was subjected to during that period), and then in a similar situation between 2022 and 2023 When OPEC decided to cut crude oil production, the price of a barrel also reached $90 to $100 and among these cases, Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister 3 to 4 times, and on one occasion Modi himself did not make such a call at that time, nor did Modi ask.
“When the price of a barrel was around $60 to $65, you were still selling us petrol and diesel at inflated prices – where did all that money collected from the people, amounting to several thousand crore rupees, go? What happened to it?” He said.
“The Prime Minister says we have to cut down on the use of petrol and diesel. Well, why did this occur to your mind only now? While campaigning and campaigning in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other state elections, transporting thousands of people from all over the country to those states, wasting billions of liters of petrol and diesel – why did it not occur to you then?” he asked.
