Lucknow, 12 May

(HS): Mayawati, the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, said on Tuesday that the

prime minister's austerity call demonstrates that India's dilemma is not

confined to petroleum products but is part of a larger economic crisis that is

expected to worsen. In a post on X, Mayawati reacted to Prime Minister Narendra

Modi's call for caution in the midst of the continuing war in West Asia,

highlighting worries over the energy crisis and foreign exchange reserves.

This demonstrates that India's dilemma is not

confined to petroleum goods such as petrol, diesel, and cooking gas; an

economic crisis is also expected to worsen, she added. She noted that the issue

is already affecting the lives of millions of Indians, and there are serious

concerns that it will continue.

In other words, at a time when almost 100 crore

residents of the country have already suffered terrible blows from the COVID-19

era and are fighting to secure their daily living, there is nothing significant

to lose or be more constrained about. Under these conditions, Mayawati believes

that national and state governments should take proactive steps to provide

assistance and support to low-income and hardworking families. The BSP

president went on to say that such steps will benefit both individuals and the

nation, reflecting popular mood.

Modi on Sunday urged for prudent use of fuel, deferral of gold purchases and

international travel, among other steps, to bolster the economy, emphasizing

the Centre's efforts to protect people from the negative effects of the

violence in West Asia.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi