The inflation crisis is not just a result of the war, but it is the outcome of the Modi government's wrong foreign policies: Congress

The new wave of inflation has further increased the problems of the common man after the increase in petrol and diesel prices in the country. There is a fear of an increase in the prices of edible oil, milk, and other essential items due to the rise in fuel prices. Reacting sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's advice to the public to adopt austerity and make sacrifices, Atul Londhe, chief spokesperson of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, said that the current inflation is not just a result of the Iran war, but a direct impact of the Modi government's failed economic and foreign policies over the past 12 years.

Addressing a press conference at Tilak Bhavan, Atul Londhe said that in the 144 months since the Modi government came to power, India's import-export balance has been negative for 140 months. He said that India's trade with China has become $112 billion negative, as India is importing more and exporting less to China. He claimed that India's trade with the US was initially positive, but the situation has changed after the Epstein file, the concessions given to Adani, and the trade agreements with the US, which will harm Indian farmers the most.

Atul Londhe said that now India is setting a target of $500 billion in trade with the US, but this will also lead to a negative balance. He said that the value of the rupee is constantly depreciating. In 2014, when the Modi government came to power, the value of one dollar was 58 rupees, which has now increased to 95 rupees and may soon reach 100 rupees. He sarcastically said that during the UPA government, when the price of crude oil was $147 per barrel, petrol was available for 72 rupees, diesel for 58 rupees, and a gas cylinder for 412 rupees, but today, despite the price of crude oil being $110, petrol is above 100 rupees and a gas cylinder has reached 1,000 rupees.

He asked what happened to the Modi government's promise to provide petrol at 35 rupees per liter after coming to power. He said that foreign investors are withdrawing capital from the stock market, while big projects like "Make in India", "Smart City", and manufacturing have completely failed. He said that if the country's economic situation is really improving, then why are long queues forming at petrol pumps?

Atul Londhe further said that Russia and Iran were providing oil to India in rupees, but due to US pressure, India is no longer able to buy that oil. He alleged that the benefit of buying cheap oil from Russia only went to Mukesh Ambani's Reliance and Nayara company, not the public. He said that during the UPA regime, the excise duty was only 3 rupees, which was increased to 33 rupees and lakhs of crores of rupees were earned from it.

He said that even when crude oil prices were low, petrol and diesel prices were not reduced. In 2015, the government announced that it would increase domestic production of fuel and reduce imports, but that also failed, and now India's oil imports have reached 89%. He questioned Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement in which he claimed that petrol would be reduced to 15 rupees per liter.

Regarding the NEET paper leak case, Atul Londhe said that the scandal has shattered the dreams of 23 lakh students in the country, while four students have committed suicide. He said that these are not suicides but murders committed by the government. He demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should have been sacked immediately, but no action has been taken against him or the NTA director-general so far.

He said that the CBI's action has become a mere formality, while the real culprits are still roaming free. Atul Londhe recalled that there was a NEET paper leak in 2014 as well, and a CBI investigation was conducted at that time, but the result has not been revealed yet.