Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal asking citizens to reduce fuel consumption, avoid unnecessary travel, limit purchases of gold and edible oil, and adopt austerity measures has triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties across Maharashtra, with Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction accusing the BJP of asking sacrifices only from ordinary citizens while continuing extravagant political campaigns and government spending.
The criticism intensified after several opposition leaders questioned whether the ruling establishment itself was willing to follow the austerity measures being advised to the public amid fears of a deepening global economic and energy crisis. Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal launched one of the sharpest attacks on the Prime Minister, alleging that the current crisis was the result of “incompetence and careless governance.” Sapkal claimed that while countries across the world were preparing for possible global disruptions, the Narendra Modi government remained focused on elections, publicity campaigns, advertisements, and “politics of hatred.”
Referring to the Prime Minister’s public appeals to reduce the use of petrol, diesel, fertilisers, edible oil, and gold purchases, Sapkal questioned whether the burden of sacrifice was being placed entirely on citizens while those in power continued with large-scale spending and political events. “Is the public alone expected to sacrifice while the Prime Minister travels with large convoys and holds massive rallies?” Sapkal asked, adding that inflation, fuel shortages, rising LPG prices, and increasing economic stress had severely affected common citizens. The Congress leader further alleged that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had warned the government in March about the possibility of an emerging global crisis, but the Centre ignored those warnings due to what he described as “arrogance of power.”
Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also targeted the Centre over the austerity appeal, comparing the present situation with the 2008 global economic crisis. “Even during the devastating global recession of 2008, India remained stable. But today, in the name of becoming a global superpower, citizens are being asked to sacrifice,” Wadettiwar said in a social media post.
He questioned the timing of the Prime Minister’s remarks, alleging that the government remained focused on Assembly elections in five states and remembered “sacrifice” only after polling ended. “Petrol, diesel, edible oil, gold — people are being told to reduce everything. The government will ruin the economy, but the responsibility must be carried by ordinary citizens?” he asked.
Congress leader Sachin Sawant also criticised the Prime Minister over what he called a contradiction between the government’s public messaging and its political conduct. Sawant pointed out that Prime Minister Modi had spoken in Parliament on March 23 about the need for the country to remain prepared for a “Covid-like situation” arising out of global developments. However, according to Sawant, the Prime Minister spent the following month campaigning extensively in Assembly elections across five states. “Thousands of people were transported to rallies in buses, massive fuel was consumed during campaigns, but suddenly after elections the public is being told to save fuel, avoid travel and work from home,” Sawant said.
He further claimed that even during national addresses and major political speeches, the government did not publicly emphasise the seriousness of the global crisis.
The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party faction also joined the criticism. NCP-SP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto questioned whether BJP leaders themselves would follow the Prime Minister’s appeals. Crasto asked whether BJP leaders would reduce their own convoys, adopt work-from-home practices, avoid foreign travel, and shift to public transport if they genuinely expected citizens to do the same. “If the BJP itself does not follow these seven appeals, then this will appear as another exercise in political optics,” Crasto said.
NCP-SP spokesperson and general secretary Sunil Mane demanded that the Maharashtra government immediately suspend what he described as non-essential mega expenditure, including the proposed ₹35,000-crore Nashik Kumbh Mela infrastructure works. “If the situation is worse than Covid as being suggested, then austerity must begin from large contracts, ministers, MLAs, and government spending,” Mane said, adding that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should lead by example.
Former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole also formally wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union government to implement austerity measures within the political establishment itself before expecting sacrifices from citizens. In his letter, Patole called for cuts in government tours, restrictions on the use of chartered aircraft, and reductions in large political vehicle convoys. He argued that austerity messages become credible only when political leaders and governments themselves practice them first.
The opposition’s coordinated criticism indicates that the Prime Minister’s remarks may become a major political flashpoint in the coming days, particularly at a time when inflation, fuel prices, and economic uncertainty remain sensitive public issues.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged citizens to support the Centre’s appeal for austerity and preparedness amid global uncertainties. In a social media post, Fadnavis said, “The entire country stands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, while Rahul Gandhi has already been rejected by the people in Indian politics.” The Chief Minister also shared the Prime Minister’s public appeal and urged citizens to unite in the national interest.
“Do listen to this very important appeal by Hon PM Narendra Modi ji for every Bharatiya. Let us get united and do our best towards our Nation,” Fadnavis said.
The political confrontation over the Prime Minister’s austerity appeal is now expected to intensify further, with opposition parties attempting to frame the issue around economic hardship, inflation, and political accountability, while the BJP projects the appeal as a national duty during a period of global uncertainty.
