Fadnavis defends PM Modi’s austerity appeal, slams Rahul Gandhi for ‘limited understanding’

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for public austerity, and dismissed Rahul Gandhi's criticism, claiming the Congress leader has a ''limited understanding'' of the prime minister's message. Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis asserted that the public has understood the prime minister's message and will respond to it positively. PM Modi's appeal on Sunday, calling for judicious use of fuel, postponement of gold purchases and foreign travel, among other measures, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition parties, with Rahul Gandhi terming it as ''evidence of failure''. Fadnavis launched a scathing attack against Gandhi, calling him the ''most rejected leader'' in the country. ''If Rahul Gandhi could not understand what Modiji said, then he can't be blamed now because somewhere his understanding itself is limited. But the public has understood it, and therefore people will respond positively,'' he said. State BJP president and state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the prime minister's appeal aims to encourage citizens to support indigenous products and reduce dependence on imports at a time when global conflicts have disrupted supply chains and increased inflationary pressures. ''Petrol and diesel have to be imported from abroad. Gas is also imported, and even gold, at times, comes from foreign countries. The prime minister's appeal aims to ensure that India's money does not flow outside the country. Because of war-like situations globally, inflation has risen, and India should not suffer its impact. Citizens should positively respond by using swadeshi products,'' Bawankule said. Echoing the sentiments, state IT, AI and Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said disruptions in international supply chains due to wars and geopolitical tensions had made it necessary to regulate imports and protect the Indian economy and currency. ''Until the global situation normalises, the impact of excessive imports on our currency needs to be balanced and controlled,'' Shelar said. Targeting Gandhi, Shelar said the Congress leader's remarks reflected his ''ignorance''. ''If Rahul Gandhi sees something negative even in a dialogue initiated by a prime minister trusted by the people, then his statement only reflects his ignorance,'' he said. Addressing a rally organised by the Telangana BJP in Hyderabad, PM Modi on Sunday suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of electric vehicles, utilising railway services for parcel movement, and working from home to conserve foreign exchange amid the crisis in West Asia. Reacting to the appeal, Gandhi, in a post on X, said that Modi's call for sacrifices from citizens reflected the government's failure. ''These are not words of counsel; they are evidence of failure. Over a span of 12 years, the country has been brought to such a juncture that the public now has to be told what to buy and what not to buy, where to go and where not to go,'' Gandhi said. He further alleged that the government repeatedly shifted responsibility onto the public to avoid accountability for its own failures.

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