Shimla
Harsh Mahajan on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on opposition leaders, accusing them of politicising issues related to national interest and attempting to spread confusion among the public during a challenging global situation.
Addressing the media in Shimla, the BJP Rajya Sabha MP strongly backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal to citizens, saying that 1.4 billion Indians stand firmly with the Prime Minister and are prepared to make every sacrifice necessary in the interest of the nation.
Mahajan said the Prime Minister’s appeal was precautionary, voluntary and visionary in nature, and clarified that there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country. He alleged that opposition parties including the Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Samajwadi Party were attempting to spread fear and misinformation for political gains.
Targeting opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, Mahajan claimed that they were indulging in politics even on matters concerning national security and economic stability. He said the opposition was trying to mislead people despite not understanding the larger global challenges unfolding internationally.
Drawing parallels with previous governments, Mahajan said former Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi had also appealed to citizens for cooperation during difficult times, which was then considered responsible leadership.
He further claimed that during the UPA era, India was counted among the “Fragile Five” economies, whereas under the Modi government the country has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing major economy with foreign exchange reserves of nearly 700 billion dollars.
Mahajan said Prime Minister Modi’s appeal to avoid unnecessary foreign travel and temporarily reduce gold purchases was aimed at protecting India’s foreign exchange reserves and strengthening the economy. He also defended the government’s push for public transport usage, work-from-home practices, promotion of indigenous products, limited edible oil consumption and natural farming, calling them measures fully aligned with national interest.
The BJP leader alleged that opposition parties circulated misleading social media posts regarding shortages of LPG cylinders and essential goods in an attempt to create panic among citizens. However, he said people have now understood such political tactics.
Highlighting India’s handling of global crises, Mahajan stated that the country successfully overcame challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and would continue to emerge stronger under decisive leadership and a stable economy. He appealed to opposition parties to rise above politics and support the nation during difficult times.
