New Delhi, May 14:
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has mounted a strong criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the government of hypocrisy over its calls for austerity while allegedly continuing large-scale spending on publicity and neglecting welfare support for vulnerable citizens.
In a post on X, Kharge said the Prime Minister’s recent appeals for citizens to adopt austerity and reduce expenditure stand in contrast to the government’s failure to revise pensions for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities for the past 12 years. He argued that rising inflation has eroded the value of these fixed pensions, leaving beneficiaries increasingly unable to meet basic needs.
Kharge claimed that the monthly pension of Rs 200 has effectively fallen to about Rs 110 in real terms, Rs 300 to around Rs 165, and Rs 500 to approximately Rs 275 due to an estimated 45 per cent erosion in purchasing power. He said such amounts are insufficient even for essential expenses such as food, healthcare, and medicines, particularly for India’s most vulnerable citizens.