The public should live frugally, spend less, while the government delivers speeches — Vinod Pandey
Ranchi: Launching a scathing political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has stated that, immediately following the conclusion of the elections, the public is now being lectured on the virtues of “sacrifice” and “frugal spending.” Party General Secretary Vinod Pandey alleged that the government concealed the true economic reality until the elections were over and is now shifting the burden onto the common people.
Vinod Pandey remarked that the Prime Minister is advising the public to conserve petrol, refrain from purchasing gold, curtail foreign travel, and shun foreign-made goods; however, the pertinent question remains: if the situation was indeed this dire, why was the nation not apprised of it prior to the elections? He alleged that the government deliberately kept the country's actual economic condition under wraps for the sake of political gain.
The JMM leader noted that the Modi government has consistently made grandiose claims—invoking concepts such as *Vishwaguru* (Global Leader), *New India*, and a “$5 Trillion Economy”—yet today, soaring inflation, rampant unemployment, and a faltering economy have broken the back of the common man. He asserted that the public is being squeezed dry through the imposition of heavy taxes on petrol and diesel, and now, that very same public is being preached to about the necessity of sacrifice.
He also raised questions regarding the Central Government's foreign policy, observing that nations once touted as India's most trusted allies now appear to be distancing themselves. He alleged that the government is capitulating to pressure from the United States, and the repercussions of this are directly impacting the country's economy.
In a sarcastic jibe, Vinod Pandey pointed out that while, on one hand, the public is being advised to “work from home” and conduct meetings online, the Prime Minister himself, on the other hand, continues to embark on foreign tours. He remarked that the citizens of the country are being fed a steady stream of directives—at times asked to bang *thalis* (plates), at other times to light candles, and now, to adopt the mantra of “live less, spend less.”
The JMM asserted that what the country needs is not rhetoric, but concrete answers regarding the pressing issues of inflation, unemployment, and the ongoing economic crisis.
