Modi Urges Austerity as Supreme Court Cancels September 5 March in Delhi

The political landscape in India witnessed a significant development as the Cockroach Janta Party announced the cancellation of its planned march in Delhi on September 5. This decision followed a directive from the Supreme Court, which ordered the withdrawal of all first information reports (FIRs) linked to student protests that erupted in July. The plea to quash these cases was submitted by the Union government earlier this week.

In a broader context, states including Bihar, Assam, Maharashtra, and West Bengal have begun to align with the Union government’s stance, further reflecting the government’s concerted effort to manage the ongoing situation. The Supreme Court has also granted permission for the Delhi Police to file a new FIR against nearly 2,873 individuals identified as having serious criminal backgrounds who were present during the protests.

Amidst this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to reiterate his call for austerity measures among Indian citizens. In a video message from Kyrgyzstan, he urged the populace to limit international travel and avoid extravagant expenditures such as purchasing gold. He specifically advised against organizing destination weddings abroad, emphasizing a need for financial prudence.

This is not the first time Modi has advocated for austerity. Back in May, he had called for similar measures, attributing the necessity to the economic ramifications of conflicts in West Asia. Modi framed the act of conserving foreign exchange reserves as a patriotic duty, underscoring the country’s economic challenges.

His recent remarks coincided with the announcement of India’s impressive GDP growth rate of 7.8% for the April-June quarter, a statistic that Modi celebrated. However, opposition parties, notably the Congress, have dismissed these figures, branding them as a “greatly distorted picture” of the nation’s economic health. This ongoing debate highlights the contrasting narratives surrounding India’s economic performance, and whether austerity measures are truly beneficial or merely political posturing.

Source: scroll.in