‘Look Who’s Talking’: MVA netas question Modi over austerity appeal

Nagpur: Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his appeal for fuel conservation amid the West Asia crisis, accusing him of hypocrisy and policy failures.Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said Modi should "lead by example" instead of merely advising citizens to cut fuel consumption. "In the morning, the Prime Minister asks people to save fuel and use public transport, but by evening he is holding roadshows," Londhe told TOI.Londhe also alleged that the Centre's foreign policy has weakened India's ties with Iran and Russia, depriving the country of access to cheaper oil through rupee-based trade arrangements. "The govt appears to be bending before the United States despite the economic costs," he said.MPCC president Harshwardhan Sapkal termed Modi a "compromised PM" and said citizens should not be forced to bear the burden of the Centre's failures. "If the PM is serious about austerity, he and his ministers must practise it first," Sapkal said, alleging that Modi continues to travel with convoys of 40 to 50 vehicles while preaching restraint.Former MPCC president and Sakoli MLA Nana Patole wrote to Modi, urging the Centre to reduce expenditure on charter flights, motorcades and large-scale political events before asking citizens to sacrifice. Referring to Modi's recent visits to Telangana, Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Jamnagar (Gujarat), Patole said extensive convoys and rallies accompanied each tour."When you ask citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and conserve fuel, the message will carry greater credibility if the govt itself cuts down on charter flights, large convoys and extravagant roadshows," Patole wrote. He added that elected representatives must follow the principles they expect citizens to adopt.Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi described the situation as a "policy failure", saying the consequences of election-driven decisions were now being shifted onto the public through appeals to reduce travel and spending.Londhe also criticised the govt's suggestions on fertiliser use, warning that any abrupt shift to organic farming could sharply reduce agricultural output. Citing Sri Lanka's experience, he said aggressive promotion of organic farming there had triggered inflation and shortages of essential produce.