Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Sunday, in which he said the country is going through difficult times and that people must stop extravagance and demonstrate patriotism, has drawn widespread criticism. Modi’s nine suggestions, including reducing the use of petrol and cooking oil have faced strong opposition from everyone ranging from ordinary citizens to economic experts. Political analysts are also criticizing the government, asking how those who pushed the economy into crisis during 12 years of rule can now offer ‘free advice’.
Critics point out that Modi did not say a single word about economic offenders who evaded taxes and fled abroad, yet is now asking poor and middle class citizens to make sacrifices. Social media users are mocking the timing, asking whether Modi suddenly remembered the crisis only after elections in five states were completed.
Netizens are also questioning whether the advice Modi gave applies to industrialists like Adani and Ambani as well. Many are accusing the government of indirectly imposing restrictions on citizens in the name of protecting the country’s future.
● ‘If We Win, It’s Because of Us – If We Lose, It’s Because of You’.
Economic analysts say the Modi government follows the attitude of ‘Victory is claimed, Defeat is blamed’. They argue that when there is success, the government claims full credit, but when there is failure, responsibility is shifted onto others. They say Modi’s Sunday speech reflected this mindset. Reports in 2024 stated that India became the world’s fourth-largest economy. But an economy grows only because of the productivity and labor of its people. Analysts argue that while citizens’ hard work led to growth, the BJP projected it entirely as the government’s achievement. Now, they say, due to policy failures and poor governance, the economy is slipping into crisis. According to economic experts, this is a government failure. Yet the central government is allegedly trying to hide its shortcomings by claiming that the crisis is caused by citizens’ extravagant spending and use of foreign products.
● Will He Ask Adani and Ambani Too..??
To stabilize the economy, Modi advised people to use public transportation and avoid buying gold for a year. Economists reacted angrily, asking whether he would dare give the same advice to Adani and Ambani. Intellectuals recalled that during times of famine and crisis, rulers like Mysore Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar donated heavily from their own treasuries to support governments. Industrialists like Jamsetji Tata and Henry Ford also financially supported nations during difficult periods.
They argue that billionaires like Adani and Ambani, who are members of the ‘100-billion-dollar club’, could also support the country financially to demonstrate patriotism. Critics ask why the Prime Minister is not appealing to them instead.
● Only After Elections Ended.
Experts note that Modi blamed the crisis on the West Asia war, even though tensions had begun nearly 70 days earlier. They question why the Prime Minister is talking about the crisis only now. According to critics, the government avoided discussing the issue earlier because it feared electoral backlash in the five state elections. Netizens sarcastically compared the BJP’s behavior to covering holes in a banyan vest with a suit claiming the government has been hiding the economic crisis for years under the slogan ‘Viksit Bharat’.
● What About Loan Write-Offs, Debt and Taxes..??
People are questioning why the Prime Minister speaks about economic self-reliance for ordinary citizens but remains silent about financial offenders who fled abroad after defaulting on bank loans. Critics point out that banks have written off nearly ₹10 lakh crore over the past 12 years. Economic analysts say the Modi government heavily burdened common people with GST, VAT, excise duty, income tax, capital gains tax and other taxes. They estimate that around ₹350 lakh crore has entered the central treasury through taxes during this period. At the same time, they claim the government increased debt to the extent that every Indian citizen now effectively carries a burden of ₹1.48 lakh, taking total national debt to ₹208 lakh crore. They also point out that under Modi’s rule, the Indian rupee has fallen to historic lows. Critics ask how the Prime Minister can lecture ordinary citizens on economics while hiding these failures.
● Democracy or Dictatorship..??
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is often described as a dictator who decides what people should wear, how their hairstyles should look, and even what food they should cook. Netizens now say Modi’s speech creates a similar impression in India. His suggestions such as not buying gold, avoiding foreign tours, reducing cooking oil use, cutting fertilizer consumption and limiting monthly shopping lists are being described as excessive and authoritarian. People are asking how such restrictions can be justified in a democratic country.
● Economic Indicators Under Modi’s Rule.
Rupee Depreciation
* 2014: ₹58 per US dollar
* 2026: ₹95 per US dollar
* Decline: 63.79%
Debt Per Citizen.
* 2014: ₹48,296
* 2026: ₹1.48 lakh
* Increase: 208.33%
Foreign Debt (In billion dollars).
* 2014: 446
* 2026: 755
* Increase: 69%
Imports (In billion dollars).
• 2014: 450
* 2026: 800
* Increase: 78%
Unemployment Rate
• 2014: 5.4%
* 2026: 7.5%
* Increase: 2.1%